Sudan airstrikes, drone attacks kill dozens in Kordofan and Darfur: UN
Synopsis
UN agencies report dozens of civilians killed in airstrikes and drone attacks across Sudan's Kordofan and Darfur states, with drone strikes alone accounting for over 880 deaths — more than 80% of all conflict-related civilian fatalities between January and April 2025. Senior UN officials warn the violence could spread to central and eastern Sudan as the rainy season approaches.
Key Takeaways
Strikes in South Kordofan and North Kordofan on Friday killed at least 26 civilians , according to OCHA .
A strike on a civilian truck in West Kordofan on Saturday killed more than 17 people .
Drone attacks accounted for at least 880 deaths — over 80% of all conflict-related civilian fatalities in Sudan between January and April 2025 .
UN High Commissioner Volker Türk warned of an intensification of hostilities as parties seek territorial control ahead of the rainy season.
More than 4,600 people were displaced from Al Kurmuk locality in Blue Nile state on Thursday alone, according to the International Organization for Migration .
Airstrikes and drone attacks across Sudan's Kordofan and Darfur states have killed dozens of civilians, including women and children, according to UN humanitarian agencies. The violence, reported over multiple days last week, has drawn urgent warnings from senior UN officials about an escalating civilian death toll.
Key Incidents and Casualty Figures
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Monday that local sources reported strikes in South Kordofan and North Kordofan states on Friday killed at least 26 civilians. Armed clashes and additional airstrikes were also reported around El Obeid and the town of Bara in North Kordofan.
On Saturday, according to OCHA's local sources, more than 17 people were killed in a strike on a civilian truck travelling from Khumi village toward the Abu Zabad area in West Kordofan state. Deadly drone strikes were additionally reported in North Darfur and South Darfur states in recent days.
Drone Attacks Account for Over 80% of Civilian Deaths
The UN Human Rights Office warned that drone attacks alone accounted for at least 880 deaths — more than 80 per cent of all conflict-related civilian fatalities recorded between January and April 2025 in Sudan. The figures point to a dramatic shift in how the conflict is being waged, with aerial and drone-based strikes increasingly replacing ground operations.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the growing reliance on drones was allowing hostilities to continue unabated even as the rainy season approaches — a period that has historically brought a lull in ground fighting.
Point of View
Exploiting the fact that drone warfare generates far less international pressure than ground atrocities. The approaching rainy season, once a natural circuit-breaker, now offers no relief if drones replace boots on the ground. The UN's warning about the conflict spreading to central and eastern Sudan deserves far more attention than it is receiving; a geographic expansion would push an already overwhelmed humanitarian system past its limits.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many civilians have been killed in Sudan's drone attacks in 2025?
According to the UN Human Rights Office, drone attacks accounted for at least 880 civilian deaths in Sudan between January and April 2025, representing more than 80% of all conflict-related civilian fatalities recorded in that period.
Where did the latest airstrikes in Sudan occur?
The latest strikes were reported in South Kordofan, North Kordofan, and West Kordofan states, as well as North Darfur and South Darfur. A strike near El Obeid and the town of Bara in North Kordofan was also reported, along with an attack on a civilian truck near Abu Zabad in West Kordofan.
What did UN High Commissioner Volker Türk say about the Sudan conflict?
Volker Türk warned that the increasing reliance on drones allows hostilities to continue even as the rainy season approaches, which historically has reduced ground operations. He cautioned that an intensification of fighting risks expanding the conflict to central and eastern Sudan, with lethal consequences for civilians across vast areas.
How many people have been displaced by the violence in Sudan?
The International Organization for Migration reported that heightened insecurity in Blue Nile state displaced more than 4,600 people from villages in Al Kurmuk locality on a single day — Thursday — underlining the scale of civilian displacement driven by the conflict.
What is the UN calling for in response to the Sudan crisis?
OCHA has called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and allow humanitarian aid to reach people in need quickly, safely, and without obstruction.
