Death Toll in Drone Strike on Abyei Market Rises to 153, Many Bodies Burnt Beyond Recognition
At least 153 people have been killed in a drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan. South Sudan's administration has blamed the Sudanese military for the deadly attack, although it has presented no evidence in support of the claim.
The devastating strike hit a market in the northern part of Abyei town on Monday local time. On Tuesday, the region's acting information minister, Yohana Akol Ngor, confirmed that the death toll, initially put at 73, had risen to 153 and could climb further.
Describing the rescue effort, he said: 'The fire is still burning. Bodies are being recovered. The situation is horrific.' He also noted that a number of bodies had been completely burnt to ashes in the fire.
The Reuters news agency analysed a video from the scene. The footage showed burnt-out vehicles and the ruins of several buildings, one of which was still on fire.
According to three diplomatic sources, a conflict analyst and an aid worker, the drone struck a fuel depot in the market. The diplomats claim the depot had previously been used by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for its supply logistics.
Information minister Ngor, however, rejected the suggestion of an RSF presence in the area. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts, and neither the Sudanese armed forces nor the RSF commented immediately on the matter.
The fierce fire has badly hampered the recovery of bodies. Ngor also said that Monday's violence had left around eight thousand people homeless.
An eyewitness said five large explosions with a deafening roar were followed by fire spreading through the fuel market. Countless people were left bloodied by bomb shrapnel, and the witness personally saw 28 burnt bodies lying in a single spot.
South Sudan's foreign ministry has summoned Sudan's ambassador in strong protest over the attack.
Ever since South Sudan broke away from Sudan to become an independent state in 2011, the two countries have been in dispute over control of the oil-rich Abyei region. The area is currently administered jointly.
Since April 2023, an internal war has raged in Sudan between the army and the RSF. Both sides have stepped up drone attacks in recent times, and the death toll from various strikes over the past few days has exceeded two hundred and fifty.
The United Nations has strongly condemned the continuing drone attacks on Abyei and other civilian areas. The organisation's spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said such strikes are making the lives of conflict-affected ordinary people even more miserable.
The international medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said more than 20 injured people are being treated at Ameth Bek hospital near Abyei, several of them with serious burns.
Until the fire is extinguished and the recovery of bodies is complete, there are fears the true death toll will rise further. At the same time, delivering humanitarian assistance to the eight thousand displaced people has become a major challenge.
