Drones now leading cause of civilian deaths in Sudan, UN human rights office says

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday issued a excessive alert on the widening use of drones within the battle in Sudan. Türk claimed that until the worldwide neighborhood takes motion immediately, the battle in Sudan will enter a brand new, even deadlier part.

The Sudan workforce on the Human Rights Workplace discovered that upwards of 80 % of all civilian deaths from January to April 2026—numbering a minimum of 880—will be attributed to drone assaults. These embrace assaults on Friday that killed 26 civilians in Al Quz, South Kordofan, and close to El Obeid, North Kordofan.

Türk warned:

This rising reliance on drones permits hostilities to proceed unabated within the approaching wet season, which up to now has caused a lull in floor operations. An intensification of hostilities within the coming weeks, because the events search to realize or consolidate management of territory amid shifting battle dynamics, dangers hostilities increasing even additional to central and jap states, with deadly penalties for civilians throughout monumental areas.

Targets struck by drones embrace healthcare amenities which has rendered hospitals inoperable, and a Might 4 assault on the Khartoum Worldwide Airport which led to the disruption of all flights. The Sudanese authorities has accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of being behind the drone strike on the Khartoum airport and others. Navy spokesperson Brigadier Common Asim Awad Abdelwahab claims to have intelligence of 4 drone assaults since March 1 having originated from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar utilizing drones offered by the UAE.

The UAE has come underneath hearth for supporting the Speedy Assist Forces (RSF) of their conflict in opposition to the Sudanese authorities. The battle in Sudan erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Speedy Assist Forces (RSF). The battle has been described as one of many world’s worst humanitarian crises, with the RSF dealing with accusations of genocide and conflict crimes by the UN.