The United Nations has raised alarm over escalating drone attacks in Sudan, warning that civilians are being killed, healthcare facilities damaged, and humanitarian operations severely strained as the conflict approaches its third year.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), recent strikes have increasingly targeted populated areas and medical infrastructure. A drone attack last Thursday on Al-Jabalain Hospital in White Nile State reportedly killed 10 health workers and injured 22, disrupting critical services. Similar strikes in Blue Nile State last Wednesday hit a market in Balila village, killing seven civilians.
The World Health Organization has verified more than 200 attacks on healthcare facilities since the conflict began nearly three years ago, resulting in over 2,000 deaths. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 13 such attacks killed 184 people and injured nearly 300 others.
The violence has also driven displacement, with the International Organization for Migration reporting that more than 10,000 people fled Kurmuk locality between mid-February and late March, many seeking refuge in Ethiopia. Those arriving in Ed Damazine face acute shortages of food, healthcare and shelter, with heightened risks for women and children.
Despite the worsening conditions, humanitarian efforts continue. OCHA said nearly 200 million U.S. dollars has been allocated to assist about 4 million people. However, funding remains critically low, with Sudan’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan—seeking 2.9 billion dollars—only 16 percent funded as of April 6.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing. Pekka Haavisto, envoy of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is engaging regional actors, including Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in talks aimed at de-escalation and civilian protection.
The UN reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire, protection of civilians and medical facilities, and unhindered humanitarian access, as the humanitarian crisis deepens.
