More than 100 people were killed and 113 others injured in a Sudanese military drone strike on a crowded market in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, a rights group said on Tuesday. The attack took place on Monday evening and adds to the growing number of civilian casualties in Sudan's ongoing civil war. Emergency Lawyers, a group that monitors violence in Sudan, said women and children accounted for many of the victims. The group blamed the Sudanese military for the strike and called for an independent investigation into the incident. The rights group condemned the attack, saying it had turned a busy civilian marketplace into a scene of mass casualties. It also warned that the strike had deepened the suffering of residents already struggling with the effects of the conflict.

MSF Reports Dozens of Bodies and Hundreds of Injured

Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), reported a large number of casualties at its hospital in Nyala. The medical organisation said 36 bodies had arrived at its facility, while medical staff had treated around 150 injured people in the emergency room. The figures highlighted the pressure on local healthcare services following the attack. Nyala remains under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The group has been fighting Sudan's national military since April 2023.

Drone Attacks Increasingly Threaten Civilians

Both the Sudanese military and the RSF have stepped up their use of drones carrying explosives. Their attacks have struck civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, markets, dams and displacement camps. The United Nations has warned that drone strikes have become one of the deadliest threats to civilians in Sudan. These attacks have killed adults and children while disrupting essential services across conflict-affected areas. The latest strike in Nyala has renewed concerns about the growing use of explosive drones in populated areas and the risks they pose to civilians.

Drone Strike Leaves Parts of Khartoum Without Electricity

In a separate incident, a drone strike on a major transformer station in Omdurman left large parts of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, without electricity for more than 12 hours on Tuesday. The attack targeted the Al-Markhiyat transformer station on the outskirts of the capital. The damage disrupted electricity supplies and affected essential services, including hospitals, bakeries and water facilities. An electricity company official told the Associated Press that the attack could affect around 60 per cent of Khartoum's power supply. Water stations were likely to suffer some of the most serious consequences. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the RSF for the strike. He also said the station had suffered a second attack this year.

Electricity Company Warns of Prolonged Power Rationing

The state-run Sudanese Electricity Distribution Company confirmed serious damage and technical faults across the distribution network. The problems affected several major stations and power lines. The company said technical teams were working around the clock to restore electricity. However, it warned that residents would face longer-than-usual power rationing until workers completed the necessary repairs. The outage has added to the difficulties faced by residents who already struggle to access basic services amid the conflict.

Residents Face Water Shortages and Rising Bread Prices

Residents reported major disruptions to their daily lives following the power outage. One resident in southern Khartoum said he had been without electricity and water for 17 hours. He also expressed concern about keeping his insulin refrigerated, as the medication requires proper storage. The resident warned that bakeries could struggle to operate without reliable electricity. Any prolonged closures could worsen bread shortages and drive prices higher. The disruption has highlighted how attacks on power infrastructure can affect access to food, drinking water and essential medicines.

Drone Strikes Return to Khartoum After Military Gains

Drone attacks in Khartoum had become less frequent after the Sudanese military regained control of the capital in May 2025. The city had witnessed years of intense fighting following the outbreak of the war. However, the latest attack on the Al-Markhiyat transformer station has raised fresh concerns about the security of essential infrastructure. Damage to electricity facilities can have consequences far beyond power shortages. Hospitals need electricity to provide medical care, water stations require power to operate, and bakeries depend on reliable supplies to produce bread.

Sudan's Civil War Triggers a Massive Humanitarian Crisis

Sudan's conflict began in April 2023, when tensions between the national military and the RSF escalated into open fighting in Khartoum. The war has since spread across the country and triggered what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Conflict monitor ACLED estimates that at least 59,000 people have died. However, humanitarian organisations believe the actual death toll could be significantly higher. Around 34 million people need humanitarian assistance, according to figures cited in the report. More than 67 per cent of Sudan's population depends on aid to meet essential needs.

Children Face Acute Malnutrition as Famine Risks Grow

The humanitarian crisis has placed children at particular risk. Around 825,000 children are facing acute malnutrition, according to the figures cited in the report. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global monitor of food insecurity, recently warned that conditions were deteriorating across greater Darfur and Kordofan. The worsening situation has increased concerns about the risk of famine in these regions. Ongoing fighting, displacement and disruptions to food supplies have made it increasingly difficult for families to obtain enough food.

More Than 30 Countries Call for Humanitarian Access

In a joint statement, more than 30 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, along with the European Commission, urged the warring parties to remove all obstacles to humanitarian assistance. The appeal came as continued fighting and drone attacks placed further pressure on aid operations and essential services. With attacks hitting crowded markets and critical infrastructure, civilians face growing dangers across Sudan. The conflict continues to worsen food insecurity and disrupt access to electricity, clean water and healthcare, leaving millions of people in urgent need of assistance.