Sudan’s Civil War Death Toll Far Higher Than Previously Reported, Study Reveals

The number of deaths resulting from the ongoing civil war in Sudan is much higher than initially reported, with new figures indicating that over 61,000 people have died in Khartoum state alone, where the conflict began last year. This revelation comes from a report by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Sudan Research Group.

The report highlights that of the 61,000 deaths in Khartoum, 26,000 were directly caused by violence, while the remaining deaths were attributed to preventable diseases and starvation, which have become widespread across the country. The situation in other parts of Sudan, especially in Darfur, is even worse, with continued reports of atrocities, including ethnic cleansing.

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has escalated, with aid workers calling it the world’s worst. Famine and disease are ravaging large areas of the country, and the UN, along with other aid organizations, had previously estimated that around 20,000 people had died. However, due to the chaotic environment, systematic recording of deaths has been impossible.

In related news, a rights group has raised concerns about the involvement of French military technology in the conflict. Amnesty International revealed that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia fighting the Sudanese army, is using vehicles supplied by the UAE, which are equipped with French-made defense systems. These weapons, according to Amnesty, are being used in active combat, potentially contributing to further human rights violations in Sudan.

Amnesty called on the French government to halt the supply of such systems, which could be facilitating abuses in the conflict. The group shared images showing the French-made Galix defense system on destroyed vehicles in Darfur, suggesting the weaponry’s ongoing use in the war.