At least five civilians were killed and several others injured when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an artillery attack on Al-Rashad Mosque in Omdurman, west of Khartoum, during Maghrib prayers on Sunday evening.

The attack took place in the Karrari district's northern rural area, leaving the mosque's imam severely injured, reportedly losing a leg. Several children were also wounded and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. However, the exact number of injured children was not disclosed. 

"The rebel militia (RSF) shelled worshippers at Al-Rashad Mosque, killing five civilians instantly," the statement read. The RSF has yet to respond to the allegations. 

Humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported alarming statistics on the impact of the conflict on children. At the Bashair Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, 16% of war patients treated recently were children. Between October 19 and November 8, MSF screened over 4,000 women and children for malnutrition in the region, with more than 1,500 cases of severe malnutrition and 400 moderate cases recorded. 

The attack comes amid ongoing hostilities between the Sudanese army and RSF in Omdurman, where intermittent artillery fire has been reported. The Sudanese army retains control over much of the city, including its northern sectors. 

Since April 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF has claimed over 20,000 lives and displaced more than 11 million people, according to United Nations data. Severe food shortages are exacerbating the crisis, with 13 of Sudan's 18 states facing famine-like conditions. 

International organizations and governments have intensified calls for a resolution to the conflict, warning of escalating humanitarian disasters in the war-torn nation. (ILKHA)