Sudanese rescuers reported that victims lost their lives due to "random shelling" in western Omdurman, as clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalate.

Sudanese volunteer rescuers reported that shelling in the greater Khartoum area has resulted in at least 120 deaths as the conflict between the army and paramilitary forces continues to intensify nationwide. According to the Ombada Emergency Response Room, part of a network of volunteer rescuers across Sudan, "random shelling" on Monday in western Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city across the Nile River, led to the civilian casualties. The reported toll is described as preliminary, with no confirmation regarding which side was responsible for the attack.

Rescuers highlighted a critical shortage of medical supplies, making it difficult for healthcare workers to treat numerous injured individuals suffering from varying degrees of injuries caused by the shelling.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a conflict between rival generals fighting for control. Most of Omdurman is under army control, while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hold Khartoum North and other parts of the capital. Residents on both sides of the Nile frequently report shelling across the river, with bombs and shrapnel causing damage to homes and civilian casualties.

In Omdurman’s Ombada locality, rescuers previously reported a severe healthcare crisis. Over 70 deaths from August to December were attributed to malnutrition, malaria, and diarrhea, underscoring the dire conditions exacerbated by the ongoing conflict.

The shelling on Monday coincided with escalating clashes between the army and the RSF, now over 20 months into their war. In Port Sudan, the base of Sudan's army-aligned government, power outages occurred after a drone attack attributed to the RSF targeted a major hydroelectric dam in the northern region. This attack followed the army's capture of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira state, which had been under paramilitary control for more than a year.

The war has devastated Sudan’s already fragile infrastructure, claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced over 12 million people, and driven many to the brink of famine.