About 700 civilians have been killed in Sudan since last January in strikes carried out by drones, according to what was announced today (Tuesday) by the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, on the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of the war.
Fletcher said in a statement: “Around 700 civilians have been killed in drone shelling during the first three months of this year,” describing the anniversary of the war that began in April 2023 as a “grim milestone,” coming after “another year in which the international community has failed to fulfill its duty regarding the Sudanese crisis.”
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of more than 11 million people, pushing several regions into the grip of famine.
In recent months, near-daily drone airstrikes have disrupted life across different parts of Sudan, especially in Kordofan (south), which is now considered the main battlefield in the war, as well as in areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces in the west, including Darfur.
The UN humanitarian official stated that three years of war have torn apart a country that once held promising prospects, noting that nearly 34 million people—about two-thirds of the population—are in need of humanitarian assistance. He pointed out that hunger is worsening with the approach of the dry season, while hundreds of thousands of children are suffering from acute malnutrition, and millions are deprived of education.
He added that women and girls are facing deeply rooted and brutal sexual violence.
Fletcher noted that humanitarian personnel supported 17 million people last year and will attempt to assist 20 million this year, but “the response is suffering from severe underfunding,” he said.
He concluded: “We urgently need immediate action to stop the violence, protect civilians, ensure that aid reaches the most vulnerable communities, and fund the humanitarian response,” adding: “This painful anniversary marks yet another year in which the world has failed to confront the challenges in Sudan.”
