UN Condemns Rising Drone Attacks in Sudan After More Than 200 Civilian Deaths

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has strongly condemned the escalating use of armed drones in Sudan's ongoing conflict, warning that the increasing deployment of explosive weapons in populated areas is causing devastating consequences for civilians.

According to reports cited by the UN, more than 200 civilians have been killed in drone attacks since 4 March across Sudan's Kordofan region and White Nile state, highlighting a dangerous intensification of the nearly three-year conflict.

UN Warns Drone Warfare Is Intensifying the Conflict

Türk said he was "appalled" by the growing toll on civilians as both sides in the conflict increasingly deploy powerful drones capable of striking targets over wide areas.

"It is deeply troubling that despite multiple reminders, warnings and appeals, parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to use increasingly powerful drones to deploy explosive weapons with wide-area impacts in populated areas," Türk said.

He reiterated that international humanitarian law strictly prohibits attacks targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure, as well as indiscriminate attacks that cannot distinguish between military and civilian targets.

"I renew my call on them to abide fully with international humanitarian law in their use of these weapons," Türk said.

Deadly Drone Strikes in West Kordofan

The UN reported that at least 152 civilians were killed in West Kordofan in a series of drone strikes attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

One of the deadliest incidents occurred on 4 March in Al-Muglad, where a drone strike hit both a market and a hospital, reportedly killing at least 50 civilians.

Additional strikes on two separate markets in Abu Zabad and Wad Banda on 7 March killed at least 40 people, while a lorry carrying civilians in Al-Sunut was allegedly struck by a SAF drone on 10 March, leaving at least 50 civilians dead, including women and children.

Artillery Attacks Kill Dozens in South Kordofan

Meanwhile, in South Kordofan, at least 39 civilians were reportedly killed in heavy artillery shelling carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied SPLM-North fighters between 4 and 5 March.

Among those killed were 14 civilians in the state capital Dilling, according to UN reports.

The attacks caused widespread destruction to civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, markets and health facilities, further worsening conditions for communities already suffering from prolonged conflict.

Fighting Expands Into White Nile State

The UN also expressed alarm over the expansion of the conflict into White Nile state, which has come under repeated drone attacks in recent days.

On 11 March, a drone strike reportedly hit a secondary school and health clinic in Shukeiri village, killing at least 17 civilians, including a health worker.

Multiple other drone attacks have targeted the state capital Kosti, including a strike on a university dormitory on 9 March, which injured seven students, several of them critically.

Another drone attack on 10 March struck an electrical transformer at the Um Dabakir station, causing major power outages across the area.

Nearly Three Years of War Devastating Sudan

The Sudan conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, has plunged the country into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Türk warned that the continued escalation of violence—now intensified by the use of new military technologies such as drones—is prolonging suffering for millions of civilians.

"It will soon be three full years since the senseless conflict in Sudan began, devastating millions of lives and livelihoods," he said.

"Yet the violence, fueled by these new technologies of war, simply keeps spreading. It is high time it came to an end."

UN Urges Immediate Protection for Civilians

The UN human rights chief called on all parties to immediately halt attacks on civilian areas, respect international humanitarian law and work toward ending the conflict.

Human rights officials warn that without urgent action, the ongoing violence and destruction could further deepen Sudan's humanitarian catastrophe, as millions of people continue to face displacement, hunger and insecurity.

"The Sudanese people have already suffered far too much," Türk said.