A drone attack struck a crowded market in Sudan’s North Darfur state over the weekend, killing 10 people, according to local first responders. The incident adds to a widening pattern of violence across the country as clashes intensify in multiple regions and humanitarian operations face growing risks.

The North Darfur Emergency Rooms Council, a volunteer network that helps coordinate emergency aid, reported that the strike hit Al Harra market in the town of Malha on Saturday. Malha is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces. The council said the attack caused fires in market stalls and resulted in extensive material damage. It did not identify who carried out the strike.

There was no immediate response from either the Sudanese army or the Rapid Support Forces regarding the incident. Markets in conflict areas often serve as critical hubs for daily life, and attacks on such locations have raised concerns among aid workers about civilian safety as the conflict continues.

The drone strike in North Darfur occurred as fighting escalated elsewhere in Sudan, particularly in South Kordofan. In the state capital Kadugli, security conditions have deteriorated to the point that humanitarian organizations evacuated their staff on Sunday. A source from a humanitarian organization operating in the city told AFP that all workers had been withdrawn due to the worsening situation.

The evacuation followed a decision by the United Nations to relocate its logistics hub from Kadugli, according to the same source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The destination of the relocated staff was not disclosed. Kadugli and the nearby town of Dilling have been under siege by paramilitary forces since the conflict began.

Clashes in Kadugli have intensified in recent weeks. A drone attack there last week killed eight people as they attempted to flee the army controlled city. The Rapid Support Forces have also reported taking control of the Brno area, a key defensive position along the road linking Kadugli and Dilling.

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced nearly 12 million, and triggered what international agencies describe as the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis.

In October, the Rapid Support Forces pushed the army out of El Fasher, the last army stronghold in the Darfur region. Since then, the group has shifted its attention toward Kordofan, a resource rich region that serves as a strategic link between army held areas in the north and east and Rapid Support Forces controlled territories in Darfur.

Communications in parts of South Kordofan have been cut, complicating aid delivery and information flows. The United Nations declared a famine in Kadugli last month. Residents have reported being forced to search for food in nearby forests.

The ongoing conflict has effectively divided Sudan. The army controls the north, east, and central regions, while the Rapid Support Forces dominate all five state capitals in Darfur and, along with allied groups, parts of the south.