UN DOCUMENTS 1,000+ DRONE STRIKE DEATHS IN SUDAN

Drone strikes killed more than 1,000 civilians in Sudan between January and May 2026, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Türk reported to the Human Rights Council in Geneva that his office has documented a sharp increase in drone attacks during the conflict. The killings represent a significant escalation in the use of drone warfare in the country.

Sudan's war began on 15 April 2023 following a power struggle between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict subsequently spread from the capital, Khartoum, across the sprawling northeastern African nation. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project reported that the war has killed at least 59,000 people over three years, though the organisation noted the actual death toll was almost certainly higher due to reporting difficulties.

The conflict has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Approximately 34 million people — representing nearly two out of every three Sudanese — require humanitarian assistance, according to United Nations figures. The scale of displacement and civilian suffering continues to mount as fighting persists across the country.