Sudan continues to face one of the world’s gravest humanitarian emergencies as the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General and Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman President Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shows little sign of ending. The war, which erupted in April 2023, has expanded across several regions, leaving millions of civilians caught in the violence while worsening displacement, food insecurity, and the collapse of essential public services. Recent weeks have seen an increase in drone attacks targeting civilian areas, prompting renewed concern from the United Nations and humanitarian organizations over the protection of non-combatants.
According to United Nations officials, drone warfare has become an increasingly dangerous feature of the conflict, with civilians frequently among the victims. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned that the growing use of armed drones has contributed to a sharp rise in civilian deaths and injuries while damaging critical infrastructure needed for humanitarian operations. Human rights officials have stressed that attacks directed at civilians or civilian facilities violate international humanitarian law and have called for accountability from all parties involved.
The humanitarian consequences continue to worsen across Sudan. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, making Sudan one of the world’s largest displacement crises. Humanitarian agencies report that many communities remain difficult to reach because of ongoing fighting, damaged transportation routes, and insecurity affecting aid workers.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has recently approved measures calling for an urgent investigation into alleged abuses committed during the fighting, particularly in areas experiencing intense violence. The Council has expressed concern over reports of summary executions, abductions, torture, sexual violence, and attacks against civilians while urging all parties to respect international law and allow humanitarian organizations safe access to affected populations.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has repeatedly appealed for stronger protection of civilians, warning that the expanding use of armed drones is inflicting devastating consequences on communities already suffering from years of conflict. He stated, “We strongly condemn the rising use of armed drones in Sudan and the deadly impact it is having on civilians,” while urging all parties to comply fully with international humanitarian law and safeguard civilian lives.
UNICEF has also voiced alarm over the growing impact of the conflict on children. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said that children in Sudan continue to pay an unacceptable price for the fighting, emphasizing that every child deserves protection from violence and access to humanitarian assistance. The organization has urged all armed groups to protect children, schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure while allowing aid to reach vulnerable families.
Meanwhile, President Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan’s government has maintained that restoring security requires the withdrawal of RSF forces from cities under their control. According to recently reported government positions regarding ongoing peace efforts, Sudan’s military leadership has expressed support for humanitarian ceasefire proposals and a future civilian-led political transition but insists that any lasting agreement must include the complete withdrawal of RSF fighters from occupied urban centers before broader political arrangements can move forward.
As international mediation efforts continue, humanitarian organizations and global leaders are urging all sides to prioritize civilian protection, facilitate humanitarian access, and pursue meaningful negotiations capable of ending a conflict that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions more. The United Nations continues to warn that without immediate action to reduce hostilities and expand humanitarian assistance, Sudan’s crisis could become even more catastrophic for civilians across the country.
