Geneva, March 25 (Darfur24)
More than 500 civilians have been killed in Sudan as a result of drone strikes targeting populated areas and civilian infrastructure between January and mid-March, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said.
UN human rights office spokesperson Marta Hurtado warned that the escalating use of drones underscores the growing dangers posed by advanced weapons in civilian settings, noting that most casualties were recorded in states across the Kordofan region.
She said one of the deadliest incidents occurred on March 20, the first day of Eid al-Fitr, when Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur was struck. At least 64 people, including women and children, were killed, dozens were injured, and the hospital was rendered completely out of service.
On the same day, similar strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Al-Dabba in northern Sudan, hitting a power station and an engineering college. The attack left six people dead and caused a widespread power outage.
The UN also documented another drone strike on March 21 targeting a commercial transport convoy in Al-Daein, which killed at least 23 people, including women and children, amid reports of continued attempts to strike additional areas.
The commission warned that such attacks are increasingly spilling across borders, pointing to strikes in the Tineh area on both the Sudanese and Chadian sides, resulting in dozens of casualties and raising the risk of broader regional escalation.
It stressed that the continued pattern of attacks raises “serious concerns” over violations of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality, noting that some incidents may amount to war crimes.
The United Nations called on all parties to protect civilians and urged countries with influence to halt the flow of weapons fueling the conflict. It also emphasized the urgent need to revive diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire and an end to the war.