UN warns drone attacks have become leading cause of civilian death in Sudan

The UN says drone attacks have become the leading cause of death in Sudan, accounting for 80% of civilian casualties during the first four months of 2026.

Sudan plunged into all-out war in April 2023, between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese military, leaving at least 59,000 people killed, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a conflict monitoring group.

Aid groups say the figure is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher.