Fatal drone attacks on civilians continue in Sudan’s Kordofan region, the United Nations has reported, as the country’s nearly three-year conflict spreads beyond Darfur into central areas.
Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the humanitarian catastrophe, highlighting widespread killings, injuries, and infrastructure destruction caused by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Turk said over the past two weeks, both sides have conducted drone strikes resulting in more than 90 civilian deaths and 142 injuries between late January and February 6. Among the attacks were three strikes on health facilities in South Kordofan last week, killing 31 people, according to the World Health Organization.
On February 7, the RSF targeted a vehicle transporting displaced families in central Sudan, killing at least 24 people, including eight children, the Sudan Doctors Network reported.
The UN human rights chief expressed deep concern over the use of “advanced drone weaponry systems” and warned that civilian casualties are likely to rise if the international community does not intervene.
Turk also recounted survivor testimonies from el-Fasher, North Darfur, which fell to RSF forces in October after an 18-month siege, documenting mass killings and other atrocity crimes against civilians.
“Responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies squarely with the [RSF] and their allies and supporters,” Turk said, stressing that repeated drone strikes have disrupted power and water supplies, severely impacting healthcare and humanitarian operations.
The UN has called for urgent action to protect civilians and prevent further escalation, as Sudan’s conflict continues to threaten the safety and survival of tens of thousands of people.
