UN Reports Over 1,000 Civilian Deaths From Drone Strikes in Sudan

WHO:

AP News - U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reported on the situation in Sudan.

AP News - U.K. Minister for Africa and International Development Jenny Chapman commented on the conflict.

WHAT:

AP News - Drone strikes killed more than 1,000 civilians in Sudan in the first five months of 2026.

AP News - The war in Sudan has killed at least 59,000 people over three years.

AP News - At least 2,670 people were killed in 2025, marking a 600% increase in drone-related deaths compared to 2024.

AP News - The latest drone strike killed at least 15 people after hitting a cemetery and a gas station in el-Obeid.

WHERE:

AP News - The conflict is occurring in Sudan, specifically mentioned locations include Khartoum and el-Obeid.

WHEN:

AP News - The war in Sudan began on April 15, 2023.

AP News - The report covers the first five months of 2026.

WHY:

AP News - The conflict escalated due to a power struggle between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

HOW:

AP News - Both warring parties have increasingly used explosive-laden drones to target civilians and aid workers.

AP News - The conflict has involved mass atrocities, including rape and ethnically motivated killings, which are classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

(UPDATED June 15, 2026 23:37 UTC)

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has reported that the ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in over 1,000 civilian deaths from drone strikes in just the first five months of 2026, while the war has claimed at least 59,000 lives since it began on April 15, 2023. The latest drone strike in el-Obeid tragically killed at least 15 people, hitting both a cemetery and a gas station, amidst a power struggle between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that has led to mass atrocities. U.K. Minister for Africa and International Development Jenny Chapman has commented on the situation, which has seen a staggering 600% increase in drone-related deaths from 2024 to 2025, highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in places like Khartoum and el-Obeid.