Jartum, May 17 (RHC)-- In Sudan, military forces unleashed airstrikes near a hospital in the capital Khartoum Monday targeting paramilitary rivals as fighting between the warring parties enters a second month.  Airstrikes and shelling were reported in other cities in recent days, including intense battles in the western region of Darfur and in the cities of Bahri and Omdurman. 

The United Nations estimates some 200,000 people have fled Sudan to neighboring countries since the war erupted in April, with the vast majority of those displaced being women and children, many of whom are malnourished.  Hundreds of people who’ve escaped the violence in the capital to relatively safe cities like Port Sudan now face shortages of food, water and shelter as extreme heat hits the region.

Over 600 people have reportedly died since the beginning of the conflict, though the actualy death toll is expected to be much higher.  Prominent Sudanese singer Shaden Gardood was killed in crossfire between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman city over the weekend, despite an agreement between the two sides to protect civilians. 

Meanwhile, there’s been multiple reports of women and girls being sexually assaulted by armed groups.