United Nations: Forty-five peace groups and humanitarian organisations are urging Sudan’s government to stop bombing and targeting civilians in the violence-wracked south.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, the African Union and the Arab League, the coalition said recent bombings especially in Sudan’s South Kordofan state reached an “unprecedented” intensity.

The SPLM-North, a rebel group backed by South Sudan, has been fighting government forces in South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile.

The coalition said it also provided video footage and photographs showing destruction over four days in late May when it said close to 60 bombs were dropped on Kauda, the unofficial capital of rebel territory in South Kordofan. It said many bombs landed in the town’s market, some hit local humanitarian organisations, and others fell close to two schools.