UN documents 306 killed in Sudan drone strikes; army hit displaced sites
The UN Human Rights Office documented at least 306 people killed and hundreds injured in drone attacks in Sudan during the first three weeks of October, with strikes hitting homes, markets, hospitals, displacement sites, power stations and water sources. Volker Türk said drones have become responsible for the majority of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan in 2026, and the Office recorded drone strikes attributed to the Sudanese army between 6 and 10 October on sites sheltering displaced people in Ghubaysh and An Nahud in West Kordofan, killing at least 25 civilians and injuring 31. The Office also attributed attacks to the Rapid Support Forces, including a strike on a gathering of displaced people working in artisanal mining near Abu Shandi in Blue Nile state on 9 October that killed at least 31 people, mostly women and children.
Why it matters: The findings bear directly on the conflict and security theme: drone strikes attributed to both warring parties are now the leading cause of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan, according to the UN Human Rights Office.