UN Rights Chief Condemns Sudan Drone Strikes Killing 306

Escalating drone strikes across Sudan have killed at least 306 people and injured hundreds more during the first three weeks of October 2026, according to United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk.

Escalating Drone Attacks Drive Civilian Toll Across Sudanese Regions

The United Nations human rights office, OHCHR, has attributed the strikes to both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, noting that drones now account for the majority of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan this year. The widespread strikes have impacted Kordofan, Darfur, Blue Nile, and Khartoum states, hitting vital infrastructure such as power stations and water sources.

Documented Strikes on Displacement Shelters and Markets in October

Between October 6 and October 10, alleged drone strikes attributed to military government forces hit shelters for displaced people in Ghubeish and El Nuhud in West Kordofan, killing at least 25 civilians including women and children. On October 9, an alleged Rapid Support Forces drone struck a crowd of displaced people near a displacement site in Abu Shendi in Blue Nile, killing at least 31 people. Days later on October 11, an attack attributed to the Rapid Support Forces hit Um Darfa hospital in Blue Nile, seriously injuring two health workers and leaving the facility non-operational, allafrica.com reported. On October 18, a transportation truck was hit in a repeat double-tap strike in Dibab in West Kordofan, killing at least 139 people in an area controlled by the militia.

Peacekeepers Respond to Border Region Market Attack

Peacekeepers with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei visited communities affected by an October 19 drone attack on Amiet Market and the Todach area in the disputed oil-rich region between Sudan and South Sudan. That attack killed more than 80 people. Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Farooq stated that mission troops were the first to reach the scene where every shop was burning. Acting Force Commander Brigadier General Adebowale Ajabge confirmed that quick reaction and firefighting teams deployed to stop the spreading fire while moving more than 27 injured people to the mission hospital in Todach.

No work, everything is gone. I am here with my children. But I need help.

Angelina Musa Diaw

Ceasefire Appeals and Arms Control Demands

Türk urged both conflict parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law by avoiding direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects. He called on the factions and their affiliates to commit to a ceasefire while demanding that broader peace efforts address the continuous influx of arms fueling the violence. According to Middle East Monitor, the civil war in Sudan continues since 2023 and has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, with Turk stressing that a negotiated settlement centered on human rights and accountability was essential for sustainable peace.

More on Sudan: Inside Sudan's War: Reporting from the Front Lines