Geneva: At least 1,120 civilians were killed in drone strikes in Sudan in the first six months of 2026, accounting for 80% of all civilian deaths documented by the UN human rights office during the period, a senior UN official said Tuesday. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Awa Dabo emphasized the dire human impact of these attacks.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Kordofan region remains the 'current epicenter' of Sudan's conflict, with the majority of civilian deaths documented by the office this year recorded there. While drone strikes in El Obeid, North Kordofan, decreased sharply in July, civilians continue to face 'dire conditions and grave risks,' Dabo stated.

Repeated strikes on critical infrastructure, including gas stations and water and electricity facilities, have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leaving families struggling to obtain safe water, food, and medical care as prices rise. Dabo also highlighted alarming attacks on humanitarian personnel and assets, including the detention of aid workers, looting of a warehouse in Kauda, and an aerial strike outside Dilling that destroyed World Food Program trucks carrying aid.

Dabo described the conflict as a 'horrific war' fueled by interests inside and outside the country and urged the international community to cease arms transfers to parties where weapons are used in 'manifest disregard' of obligations to protect civilians. She called for accountability and sustained efforts toward a permanent ceasefire and inclusive civilian rule.