Cairo: An explosive‑laden drone strike blamed on Sudanese paramilitaries hit a secondary school and a healthcare centre in southern Sudan on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people, most of them schoolgirls, officials said.

The attack took place in the village of Shukeiri, in White Nile province. Dr Musa al‑Majeri, director of Douiem Hospital – the nearest major medical facility – said at least ten people were wounded, and three girls suffered serious injuries. Two had surgery at the hospital, while the third was flown to the capital, Khartoum, for further treatment.

The Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks violence in the war, reported that among the dead were two teachers and a healthcare worker. It said there was no military presence in the village at the time of the strike, suggesting civilians were the primary victims.

Both the medical group and Dr al‑Majeri blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary faction, for the attack. The RSF did not immediately comment when approached for a response.

What is the strike about?

The strikes on 11 March 2026 mark the latest escalation in the three‑year civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). With the conflict largely stalemated on the ground, both sides have increasingly relied on drone attacks, targeting civilian infrastructure and causing heavy casualties in areas such as White Nile and West Kordofan. The violence unfolds amid the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with over 12 million people displaced and nearly 25 million at risk of famine, while diplomatic efforts to secure a peace settlement remain at an impasse.

According to United Nations figures, the conflict has killed more than 40,000 people, although aid groups believe the true toll may be significantly higher. The fighting has also displaced millions and severely disrupted access to healthcare, with attacks on hospitals and clinics increasingly common.

The war has been marked by widespread atrocities, including mass killings and other grave abuses that are under investigation as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. The latest major civilian suffering occurred during the RSF‑linked assault on el‑Fasher in Darfur, where thousands were killed and healthcare infrastructure collapsed following a protracted siege and intense fighting last year.