Over 1,000 civilians killed in Sudan drone attacks since January: UN

CAIRO, June 15: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned of a sharp escalation in drone warfare in Sudan, revealing that more than 1,000 civilians were killed in drone strikes between January and May 2026.
Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Turk said his office had documented a significant rise in drone attacks as the conflict continues to intensify.
Sudan has been mired in conflict since April 2023, when a power struggle between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces escalated into full-scale fighting in Khartoum and other parts of the country. What began as a political and military confrontation has evolved into one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises.
According to the conflict-monitoring group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), at least 59,000 people have been killed during the three-year war. However, analysts believe the actual death toll is likely much higher due to limited access to conflict zones and challenges in documenting casualties.
The United Nations estimates that around 34 million people—nearly two-thirds of Sudan’s population—now require humanitarian assistance. The conflict has devastated urban centres, displaced millions of people and severely disrupted access to food, healthcare and basic services.
Turk also highlighted grave human rights abuses linked to the war, including widespread rape and sexual violence.
He noted that atrocities such as mass killings and ethnically motivated attacks have been reported by the UN and international rights groups. Many of these acts may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The UN rights chief stressed that the increasing use of drone warfare is worsening civilian suffering and underscored the urgent need for international efforts to protect civilians, address human rights violations and help bring an end to the conflict. (AP)