Drone strikes killed 1,120 civilians in Sudan in first half of 2026: UN

At least 1,120 civilians were killed in drone strikes in Sudan in the first six months of 2026, accounting for 80% of all civilian deaths documented by the UN human rights office during the period, a senior UN official said Tuesday, Anadolu reports.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Awa Dabo said the Kordofan region remains the “current epicenter” of Sudan’s conflict, with the majority of civilian deaths documented by the office this year recorded there.

While drone strikes in El Obeid, North Kordofan, decreased sharply in July, civilians continue to face “dire conditions and grave risks,” she said.

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Repeated strikes on gas stations and water and electricity infrastructure have left families struggling to obtain safe water, food and medical care as prices rise, Dabo added.

She also raised alarm about attacks on humanitarian personnel and assets, including the detention of aid workers, looting of a warehouse in Kauda and an aerial strike outside Dilling that destroyed World Food Program trucks carrying aid.

“This horrific war has been fueled by interests, both inside and outside the country,” said Dabo.

She urged the international community to end arms transfers to parties where weapons are used in “manifest disregard” of obligations to protect civilians. She also demanded accountability and sustained efforts toward a permanent ceasefire and inclusive civilian rule.

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