Sudan: 306 civilians killed by drones in three weeks, including 139 in a single strike

At least 306 civilians have been killed and hundreds more injured by drone strikes in Sudan during the first three weeks of October 2026, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced on October 23, according to UN News. The strikes are attributed to both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

According to the OHCHR, the strikes hit homes, markets, hospitals, displacement sites, power plants, and water points in Kordofan, Darfur, Blue Nile, Khartoum, and other states. High Commissioner Volker Türk emphasizes that drones have become the leading cause of conflict-related civilian deaths in 2026.

Dibab: 139 dead in a double-tap strike

The deadliest attack recorded by the UN occurred on October 18, targeting a transport truck in Dibab, West Kordofan, an area controlled by the RSF: at least 139 people were killed. The OHCHR describes a "double-tap" strike, where a second explosion hits those rushing to help the initial victims.

From October 6 to 10, displacement shelters in Ghubeish and El Nuhud, in the same state, were struck: at least 25 civilians were killed, including women and children, in attacks blamed on government forces. On October 9, a drone attributed to the RSF targeted displaced people washing gold in Abu Shendi, Blue Nile: at least 31 dead. On October 11, the Um Darfa hospital was put out of service, and two healthcare workers were seriously injured.

In Abyei, peacekeepers were the first to arrive

On October 19, the Amiet market and the Todach area in Abyei, an oil-rich territory disputed between Sudan and South Sudan, were struck: more than 80 dead according to the OHCHR, which did not name a perpetrator. The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei was the first to intervene; its acting commander, General Adebowale Ajabge, indicated that more than 27 injured people were transported to the Todach hospital.

Twenty-one drone models, six countries of origin

This war in the skies is fueled by imports. An investigation by the Centre for Information Resilience cited by Al Jazeera identifies 21 drone models used since the beginning of the conflict, coming mainly from Belarus, Iran, China, Russia, Sudan itself, and Turkey: ten types for the RSF, five for the army.

The war between the two generals, which began in April 2023, has entered its fourth year. The NGO ACLED estimates that at least 59,000 people have been killed and nearly 14 million displaced, including 4.5 million outside the country. Volker Türk is calling on both sides to respect humanitarian law, commit to a ceasefire, and stem the flow of weapons fueling the conflict.