Sudan: Drone Strikes Threaten Civilians and Aid Operations in Sudan

What the report says

Drone strikes in Sudan are increasingly endangering civilians and disrupting aid deliveries, according to the UN humanitarian coordination office OCHA, which issued its warning on Monday. The alert followed a reported strike a day earlier in Ghara al Zawiya, a village in North Darfur, where UN human rights officials said there were dozens of casualties. International media reported that the attack hit a traditional court and that at least 35 people were killed, with many others injured.

OCHA said recent drone attacks in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, have also put civilians, critical infrastructure and relief work at risk. The UN’s emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, said aid teams are trying to expand assistance for families affected by fighting in North Kordofan and urged the parties to reduce tensions, protect civilians and allow humanitarian access. The agency also called for more donor support, saying it has received about $1.2 billion of the $2.9 billion needed for Sudan’s humanitarian response this year.

The crisis unfolds against the wider war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which has continued since April 2023. Alongside the fighting, the UN and its partners in the so-called Quintet are continuing talks with Sudanese political figures on an inclusive, Sudanese-led political process. Separately, UN envoy Pekka Haavisto is engaging with Sudanese officials and other stakeholders, including on plans for his visit to Khartoum and efforts tied to national examinations for Sudanese students in Chad.