UN reports deadly drone strikes in Sudan amid rising hunger and displacement

What happened

UN News Africa Sudan reports a wave of drone strikes across Sudan on Monday, killing and injuring dozens, including civilians and children, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. The attacks targeted several locations including a busy market in Abyei and areas near Khartoum’s airport, resulting in injuries to at least 19 people and cancelations of some flights.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The conflict originates from fighting that began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), former allies ousted in a 2021 coup. The drone strikes come amid a backdrop of soaring displacement and hunger, with 20 million people facing acute hunger and rising famine risks in Darfur and Greater Kordofan.

Last weekend’s drone attacks reportedly killed at least 19 people, including 10 children, in West Darfur, South Darfur and North Kordofan states. These figures have been reported by the UN but are not independently confirmed in the supplied material. The UN has condemned these attacks unequivocally and called on warring parties to return to negotiations, with Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo urging external actors to cease fueling the conflict and drone use.

Known from the source

• Drone strikes occurred across Sudan on Monday, injuring at least 19 people in Abyei and targeting parts of Khartoum, including near the airport.
• Fighting since April 2023 between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces.
• At least 19 people, including 10 children, reportedly killed in drone attacks last weekend in West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Kordofan.
• 25 Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers reportedly killed since conflict began.
• UN has condemned drone strikes and attacks on aid workers and calls for protection of civilians, medical personnel, and infrastructure.

What remains unclear

The UN also highlighted grave concerns about attacks on aid workers, including the reported deaths of 25 Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers since the conflict began. Last week, a volunteer providing first aid at a health centre in Blue Nile State was reportedly killed following a drone strike. The UN emphasizes the need to protect civilians, medical facilities, and personnel in line with international humanitarian law.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of casualty figures from drone strikes, including civilian deaths and injuries. Independent confirmation of claims about the targeting and deaths of Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers. Further detail on the actors responsible for drone strikes, as the source does not explicitly identify perpetrators.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: UN News Africa Sudan. Open the source.