United Nations officials say drone strikes in Sudan are killing more than 1,000 civilians in the first five months of 2026, with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles described as increasing. Multiple outlets report that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, presented findings indicating a “sharp increase” in drone attacks during the period.
The reports place the figure in the context of Sudan’s broader conflict, which began in 2023 amid fighting that erupted between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, including battles in Khartoum and other areas. PBS NewsHour additionally notes that the war has killed at least 59,000 people over roughly three years and has driven what it describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, affecting tens of millions of people.
Several sources also cite the wider human rights situation documented by the UN, including allegations of sexual violence alongside the reported rise in drone-related civilian deaths. The outlets collectively emphasize that the UN’s account focuses on civilian harm and that drone use is becoming a more prominent feature of the conflict.
