UN condemns deadly wave of drone strikes in war-torn Sudan

Drone attacks deepen Sudan’s humanitarian emergency

Provpnmatrix.com – A new series of drone strikes across Sudan has intensified fears for civilian safety as the country’s war continues to drive hunger, displacement and the collapse of vital services. Attacks on Monday left dozens of people dead or injured in several areas, while violence over the weekend reportedly killed at least 19 people, including 10 children.

The latest incidents underscore how armed drones are becoming an increasingly dangerous feature of the conflict between Sudan’s two rival military forces. With millions of people already struggling to find food, water and medical care, attacks on populated places and essential infrastructure are compounding an already devastating crisis.

“We are alarmed by the continued deadly drone strikes across the country that are killing civilians, including children, and that are disrupting essential services,”

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric delivered that warning to journalists in New York, condemning the attacks and stressing the growing toll on ordinary Sudanese families.

Markets, the capital and regional communities hit

In Abyei, at least 19 people were injured when a drone strike hit a crowded market on Monday. Markets are especially important in communities affected by conflict, often serving as the main places where residents can obtain food, household supplies and other necessities.

Several locations in Khartoum were also targeted, including an area close to the airport. One civilian was said to have been killed, and the strikes led to the cancellation of some flights. Disruption around the capital’s airport can further complicate movement for civilians, humanitarian personnel and those seeking to leave dangerous areas.

During the weekend, drone attacks were said to have killed at least 19 people in West Darfur, South Darfur and North Kordofan. Others were injured. The reported deaths of 10 children highlight the particular vulnerability of families living in places where fighting can reach homes, roads, public spaces and services with little warning.

“We condemn all of these attacks unequivocally,”

Dujarric said, calling attention to the civilian consequences of the escalating pattern of strikes.

A war that has expanded far beyond the battlefield

Sudan’s conflict began in April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces, known as the SAF, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. The two groups had previously been allies and had jointly taken power during a 2021 coup.

What began as a power struggle has developed into a nationwide emergency affecting communities far from the original centres of confrontation. The expanding use of drones adds another layer of danger, allowing attacks to reach areas where civilians may have little opportunity to protect themselves or escape.

Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, raised concern about the growing deployment of armed drones during a Security Council briefing last Friday. She urged outside actors to stop contributing to the violence and to the spread of drone use in the conflict.

She also repeated the call for the warring parties to return to negotiations. A political path remains essential because humanitarian support, while lifesaving, cannot by itself end the violence that has uprooted communities and damaged the systems people depend on every day.

Hunger risks rise as access becomes more difficult

The military escalation is occurring while 20 million people in Sudan face acute hunger. Parts of Darfur and Greater Kordofan face an increasing risk of famine, making the protection of civilian infrastructure and humanitarian access even more urgent.

When attacks disrupt transport, markets, health facilities or water systems, their effects can extend well beyond the immediate site of impact. Families already facing food shortages may lose access to supplies, while people needing treatment can find medical care unavailable or unsafe to reach.

Humanitarian workers are also among those facing grave risks. Since the war began, 25 Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers have reportedly been killed while carrying out their duties. Their deaths represent not only a personal loss to their families and communities, but also a blow to emergency assistance for people caught in the conflict.

Dujarric expressed deep sorrow over the death last week of a Sudanese Red Crescent volunteer who was giving first aid at a health centre in Um Darfa, in Blue Nile State. The volunteer was working after a drone attack struck the facilities.

“The targeting of those who put their own lives at risk to help others in humanitarian settings is particularly heinous,”

he said. He reiterated that international humanitarian law requires the protection of civilians, civilian sites, medical facilities and medical personnel.

Life-saving work continues amid severe constraints

Despite the insecurity, UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance where access permits. In Central Darfur, partners recently restored a water facility in Zalingei, bringing safe water back to roughly 2,500 people.

More than 2,000 families have also received water, sanitation and hygiene assistance. Such support can help reduce the immediate risks created when conflict damages water infrastructure or forces large numbers of people to move away from their homes.

Yet the scale of need remains far greater than the resources available. Sudan’s humanitarian response plan is funded at only a little over 43 per cent, leaving aid organizations with difficult choices as they work to sustain food, health, water and protection services.

“Once again, we need more funding to sustain all of these lifesaving operations,”

Dujarric said. As drone strikes continue to threaten civilians across Sudan, the need for both increased humanitarian support and a return to meaningful negotiations has become ever more urgent.