The United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, has issued a stark warning over the escalating use of armed drones in Sudan, describing the conflict as being on the verge of entering an even deadlier phase. Türk condemned the increasing deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, saying civilians are paying the highest price as violence spreads across the country.
According to findings from the UN Human Rights Office in Sudan, drone strikes were responsible for at least 880 civilian deaths between January and April this year, accounting for more than 80 percent of all conflict-related civilian fatalities recorded during the period. Türk said armed drones have now become the dominant cause of civilian deaths in the war, warning that their growing use allows fighting to continue uninterrupted even during the rainy season, which historically slowed military operations.
The UN official warned that intensifying hostilities in the coming weeks could dramatically widen the conflict zone into central and eastern Sudan. He said the shifting dynamics on the battlefield could push both sides to seek greater territorial control, creating devastating consequences for civilians already trapped in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Türk stressed that the international community must act immediately to prevent the war from spiraling further out of control.
Calling for stronger international measures, Türk urged governments and international actors to halt the transfer of weapons and advanced armed drones to the warring parties. He warned that continued impunity for drone attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure risks normalizing the tactic and accelerating the cycle of violence.
The Kordofan region has emerged as one of the deadliest areas affected by the drone campaign. On 8 May alone, drone strikes on Al Quz in South Kordofan and near El Obeid in North Kordofan reportedly killed 26 civilians and wounded several others. The UN says civilians throughout Kordofan and Darfur remain increasingly vulnerable as both military factions intensify aerial attacks.
The conflict has also devastated critical civilian infrastructure. Markets, health facilities, fuel depots, and supply routes have repeatedly come under attack. At least 28 attacks on markets resulted in civilian casualties during the first four months of the year, while healthcare facilities were hit at least 12 times. Several clinics and hospitals were forced to shut down, leaving residents without access to medical treatment or forcing them to travel long distances for care.
Drone warfare is no longer confined to Sudan’s traditional battle zones. The UN reports that strikes have increasingly spread to Blue Nile, White Nile, and the capital Khartoum. A drone attack on Khartoum International Airport on 4 May disrupted all flights, while multiple targeted strikes hit Khartoum and neighboring Omdurman between late April and early May. Türk said the renewed violence has shattered months of relative calm in the capital and triggered fears that large-scale fighting could return to the city.
The UN Human Rights Chief also warned that intensified fighting in Kordofan could lead to retaliatory attacks and new waves of displacement, especially in the Sudanese Armed Forces-controlled cities of El Obeid and Dilling, which are already facing siege-like conditions. He cautioned that worsening violence threatens to severely disrupt humanitarian operations at a time when much of Sudan faces rising famine risks and acute food insecurity.
Türk added that shortages and delays in fertilizer supplies linked to the Gulf crisis could further worsen the food emergency. Persistent attacks on healthcare infrastructure, he said, have left hospitals and clinics either barely functioning or completely inoperative, placing displaced civilians at even greater risk.
Türk called on all parties involved in the conflict to guarantee the protection of civilians and ensure safe passage for those fleeing active combat zones. He demanded that civilians be shielded from reprisals including summary executions, sexual violence, arbitrary detention, and abductions, while urging all sides to facilitate safe and voluntary movement for displaced populations across Sudan.
