UN rights chief condemns drone strikes that killed at least 306 people in Sudan

Attacks attributed to both warring parties hit homes, markets, hospitals and displacement sites across five regions

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

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UN human rights chief Volker Türk has condemned an escalation in drone strikes across Sudan that killed at least 306 people and injured hundreds more in the first three weeks of October, with attacks attributed to both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said strikes hit homes, markets, hospitals, displacement sites, power stations and water sources in Kordofan, Darfur, Blue Nile, Khartoum and other states. Drones already account for the majority of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan this year, according to the office.

"The increasing use of drones, already accounting for the majority of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan this year, is deeply disturbing and is exacting a horrifying toll," Mr Türk said.

In what the office described as a disturbing trend, it documented numerous strikes on displacement sites where people who had already fled the fighting had sought shelter. Between 6 and 10 October, alleged drone strikes attributed to military government forces on shelters for displaced people in Ghubeish and El Nuhud in West Kordofan killed at least 25 civilians, including women and children.

On 9 October, an alleged RSF drone struck a crowd of displaced people engaged in artisanal gold mining near a displacement site in Abu Shendi, Blue Nile, killing at least 31 people, most of them women and children. On 18 October, at least 139 people were killed when a transportation truck was hit in a "double tap" repeat strike in Dibab, West Kordofan, an area controlled by the RSF.

Markets and hospitals have also been hit, including an RSF-attributed strike on Um Darfa hospital in Blue Nile on 11 October that seriously injured two health workers and left the facility non-operational.

"Scores of civilians have been killed, including internally displaced persons, and vital infrastructure and services have been eviscerated, driving further displacement and deepening the already severe humanitarian crisis," said OHCHR spokesperson Seif Magango.

Mr Türk called on the parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by not directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects. He urged both parties and their affiliates to commit to a ceasefire, and said broader peace efforts must address the continued influx of arms fuelling the conflict and press for an end to transfers of arms used in manifest disregard of the law protecting civilians.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The strikes are killing civilians in large numbers, including displaced people who had already fled fighting, deepening Sudan's humanitarian crisis.
Drones are now the leading cause of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan this year, a shift that is changing how the war is fought.
Vital infrastructure, including hospitals, power stations and water sources, is being destroyed, driving further displacement.

Background

Sudan has been mired in a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since 2023, with fighting concentrated in Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan and elsewhere. The conflict has produced one of the world's largest displacement crises and severe food insecurity. The UN and other bodies have repeatedly documented civilian harm and called for a negotiated settlement, but previous ceasefire efforts have failed to hold.

Key Perspectives

Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces: Both sides are attributed by OHCHR with strikes on civilian sites. The UN says both parties are responsible for the escalation and must honour their obligations under international humanitarian law. UN human rights office: Documents the strikes and urges both sides to commit to a ceasefire, arguing that a negotiated settlement with human rights at its core, underpinned by accountability, is the only feasible pathway to sustainable peace. Displaced civilians and aid agencies: Displacement sites, markets and hospitals are being hit directly, leaving people with fewer places of safety and worsening an already severe humanitarian situation.

What to Watch

Whether either party responds to the UN's ceasefire call or escalates further in the coming weeks.
Reports of additional strikes on displacement sites and civilian infrastructure, which could push the October death toll higher.
Moves by the international community to restrict arms transfers to the warring parties.

Sources

Sudan: Drone strikes killed at least 306 people in three weeks · UN News - Global perspective Human stories

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedUN rights chief Volker Türk condemned drone strikes that killed at least 306 people in Sudan.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Friday strongly condemned an escalation in drone strikes across Sudan this month, which killed at least 306 people”
SupportedAt least 306 people were killed and hundreds more injured in the first three weeks of October, in strikes attributed to the SAF and RSF.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “which killed at least 306 people and injured hundreds more in the first three weeks of October alone. The strikes, attributed to both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)”
Partly supportedThe attacks hit sites across five regions.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “hit homes, markets, hospitals, displacement sites, power stations and water sources in Kordofan, Darfur, Blue Nile, Khartoum and other states”
SupportedTürk said: “The increasing use of drones, already accounting for the majority of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan this year, is deeply disturbing and is exacting a horrifying toll.”UN News - Global perspective Human stories: ““The increasing use of drones, already accounting for the majority of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan this year, is deeply disturbing and is exacting a horrifying toll,” Mr. Türk said.”
SupportedAlleged drone strikes attributed to military government forces killed at least 25 civilians, including women and children, at shelters in Ghubeish and El Nuhud between 6 and 10 October.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Between 6 and 10 October, alleged drone strikes attributed to military government forces on shelters for displaced people in Ghubeish and El Nuhud in West Kordofan killed at least 25 civilians, including women and children.”
SupportedAn alleged RSF drone strike on 9 October killed at least 31 displaced people near a displacement site in Abu Shendi, Blue Nile; most were women and children.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “On 9 October, an alleged RSF drone struck a crowd of displaced people engaged in artisanal gold mining near a displacement site in Abu Shendi, Blue Nile, killing at least 31 people, most of them women and children.”
SupportedAt least 139 people were killed when a transportation truck was hit in a “double tap” repeat strike on 18 October in Dibab, West Kordofan, an area controlled by the RSF.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “On 18 October, at least 139 people were killed when a transportation truck was hit in a “double tap” repeat strike in Dibab, West Kordofan, an area controlled by the RSF militia.”
SupportedAn RSF-attributed strike on Um Darfa hospital on 11 October seriously injured two health workers and left the facility non-operational.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “including an RSF-attributed strike on Um Darfa hospital in Blue Nile on 11 October that seriously injured two health workers and left the facility non-operational.”
SupportedOHCHR spokesperson Seif Magango said: “Scores of civilians have been killed, including internally displaced persons, and vital infrastructure and services have been eviscerated, driving further displacement and deepening the already severe humanitarian crisis.”UN News - Global perspective Human stories: ““Scores of civilians have been killed, including internally displaced persons, and vital infrastructure and services have been eviscerated, driving further displacement and deepening the already severe humanitarian crisis,” said OHCHR Spokesperson Seif Magango.”
SupportedTürk called on the parties to respect international humanitarian law, including by not directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Mr. Türk called on the parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL), including by not directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects.”
SupportedTürk urged both parties and their affiliates to commit to a ceasefire, and said broader peace efforts must address the continued influx of arms and press for an end to transfers of arms used in disregard of the law protecting civilians.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: ““Broader peace efforts must squarely address the continued influx of arms that is fuelling the conflict and press for an end to the transfer of arms that are used in manifest disregard of the IHL obligations protecting civilians,” he said. “I urge both parties to the conflict, and their affiliates, to commit to a ceasefire,” the High Commissioner added”