Nearly 700 civilians have been killed in drone strikes across Sudan since January, the United Nations has said, highlighting a sharp escalation in a civil war that is now entering its fourth year.
According to UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, the majority of the deaths occurred within the first three months of 2026, as drone attacks became a near-daily occurrence in several conflict-affected regions. The strikes have been particularly devastating in Kordofan and Darfur, where fighting between rival forces remains intense.
The growing use of drones marks a dangerous shift in the conflict, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that such attacks are responsible for a significant proportion of child casualties, often hitting homes, markets, and schools.
Sudan has been engulfed in violence since fighting broke out between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has already killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 11 million to flee their homes, creating one of the largest displacement crises in the world.
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The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate rapidly. UN agencies estimate that more than 19 million people are facing acute hunger, as access to food, fuel, and essential supplies becomes increasingly limited. In several areas, famine conditions are already taking hold.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross reports that more than 11,000 people have been declared missing since the start of the war, with numbers rising sharply over the past year. The destruction of communication networks has left many families unable to trace loved ones, deepening the emotional toll of the conflict.
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The United Nations now describes Sudan as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with nearly two-thirds of the population in urgent need of assistance. Although aid agencies have managed to reach millions, relief efforts remain critically underfunded.
Officials warn that continued fighting, combined with rising global economic pressures, could push even more people into hunger and worsen an already catastrophic situation.
As the conflict grinds on, the increasing use of drone warfare and the scale of civilian suffering underscore the urgent need for a ceasefire and a renewed international response.
