A devastating surge of violence has gripped North Kordofan state in Sudan, where nearly 300 civilians have been killed in a wave of coordinated attacks allegedly carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Human rights group Emergency Lawyers reports that the onslaught began over the weekend, targeting several villages near the city of Bara, currently held by the RSF.

One of the worst-hit areas was Shag Alnom village, where over 200 residents were either gunned down or burned alive during arson attacks. Additional raids in neighboring communities resulted in 38 more deaths, while dozens of civilians remain unaccounted for. On Sunday, RSF fighters reportedly stormed the village of Hilat Hamid, killing 46 people, including pregnant women and children.

North Kordofan has become a flashpoint in Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and the national army. The conflict has ravaged the country, leading to widespread destruction, mass displacement, and what humanitarian agencies now describe as one of the world’s worst ongoing crises.

To date, tens of thousands of people have been killed, and more than 13 million have been forced from their homes. Aid organizations and human rights advocates are now urging immediate international intervention to prevent further atrocities. Without swift action, they warn, the civilian population remains trapped in an escalating conflict with no end in sight.