Drone strikes have killed more than 1,000 civilians in Sudan between January and May 2026, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. He noted a sharp increase in drone warfare amid the ongoing conflict.
The escalating use of drone warfare and its civilian toll highlight the severe human cost of the conflict in Sudan, exacerbating the world's largest humanitarian crisis and underscoring the need for international attention and resolution.
Drone strikes have resulted in over 1,000 civilian deaths in Sudan during the first five months of 2026, according to Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Türk noted a significant rise in the use of drone warfare amid the ongoing conflict.
The war in Sudan, which erupted on April 15, 2023, stems from a power struggle between the nation's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has expanded and escalated, leading to a sharp increase in drone attacks.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a U.S.-based group, estimates that at least 59,000 people have died in the war, acknowledging that the actual number is likely higher due to reporting difficulties. The United Nations reports that the conflict has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with approximately 34 million people, or nearly two-thirds of Sudan's population, requiring assistance.