UN Reports 1,000 Civilian Drone Deaths in Sudan in 5 Months as War Escalates
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 15
UN Reports 1,000 Civilian Drone Deaths in Sudan in 5 Months as War Escalates
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 15
Summary
More than 1,000 civilians were killed in drone strikes in Sudan from January through May 2026, UN rights chief Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council.
Türk said the conflict has sharply escalated through expanded drone warfare, with both sides increasingly using explosive-laden drones against civilians, aid workers and infrastructure including hospitals, schools, markets and displacement camps.
ACLED recorded at least 2,670 drone-related deaths in 2025 — civilians and combatants combined — up 600% from 2024, while drone attacks rose 81%, underscoring how fast the threat has grown.
The latest reported strike killed at least 15 people in el-Obeid last week, and the UN says the war, now in its fourth year, has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis with about 34 million people needing aid.