Volker Türk Says Drone Strikes Killed 880 Civilians in Sudan Between January and April

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said drone strikes in Sudan caused more than 80% of civilian deaths in the first four months of 2026, killing at least 880 people between January and April.

“At least 880 civilians have been killed by drone strikes since January in Sudan, where the conflict has just entered its fourth year, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights”

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Türk warned that the conflict, which has been raging between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 15, 2023, could be pushed into a “deadlier phase” as drone warfare escalates.

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He said health facilities were struck at least 12 times between January and April, with some shutting down, and that civilians bore the brunt as they travel long distances for medical care.

Türk said most of the drone-related deaths were recorded in the Kordofan region, with the most recent occurring on May 8, when strikes on Al Quz in South Kordofan and near El Obeid in North Kordofan killed at least 26 civilians and injured several others.

Türk issued the warning that “This increasing reliance on drones allows hostilities to continue unabated in the approaching rainy season,” adding that an intensification of hostilities in the coming weeks could expand violence toward central and eastern states.

The UN rights office said a strike on Khartoum International Airport on 4 May resulted in the disruption of all flights, and it reported several targeted drone attacks in Khartoum and its sister city of Omdurman between 28 April and 5 May.

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In a separate account, Jurist.org reported that the Sudanese government accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of being behind the drone strike on the Khartoum airport and others.

Jurist.org also quoted military spokesperson Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab saying he had intelligence of four drone attacks since March 1 having originated from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar using drones provided by the UAE.

Türk warned that humanitarian operations could be further disrupted as large parts of Sudan face increased risks of acute hunger and famine, and he called for measures to stop the transfer of arms.

He said the parties seek to gain or consolidate control of territory amid shifting conflict dynamics, and that more displacement could follow if the conflict enters “yet another new, even deadlier phase.”

The UN rights office said markets were repeatedly targeted, with at least 28 such attacks resulting in civilian casualties, while health facilities were struck at least 12 times during the four-month period, in some cases shuttering facilities and forcing civilians to travel long distances for care or to go without health care at all.

Türk warned that heightened violence would also put civilians at greater risk of retaliatory attacks and further large-scale displacement, particularly in SAF-controlled cities of El Obeid and Dilling in South Kordofan, which have both been under siege-like conditions.