More than 300 children were killed or injured in Sudan over the past six months, UNICEF said, with most casualties linked to drone strikes as fighting concentrates in Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile.
Drone strikes and shelling have hit schools, markets, fuel depots and water stations, putting more than 500,000 people at risk and leaving some communities under near-siege conditions for over a year.
In Geneva, the U.N. Human Rights Council approved a measure condemning escalating RSF violence in and around el-Obeid, a strategic North Kordofan city now contested by the army and paramilitary forces.
Since the war began in April 2023, at least 59,000 people have been killed, about 13 million displaced and more than 30 million left needing humanitarian aid, with famine spreading in parts of Sudan.
As cheap drones become the main killers of children, how can civilians be protected from this new form of warfare?
After years of atrocities and genocide findings, why have Sudan's warring generals faced no real consequences?
With foreign powers funding both sides, are international sanctions on Sudan's gold trade doomed to fail?
The 2026 Sudan Drone Crisis: Escalating Civilian Deaths, Humanitarian Disaster, and the Future of Warfare
Overview
In 2026, Sudan saw a dramatic surge in drone attacks, with both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces increasingly using drones supplied by their backers. These aerial assaults shifted the conflict, as drones were used not only against military targets but also against civilians and vital infrastructure. The relentless use of armed drones led to widespread destruction and devastating impacts on civilian life, including repeated strikes on homes, schools, and hospitals. This escalation transformed the conflict landscape, making drone warfare a primary cause of civilian deaths and deepening the humanitarian crisis across the country.