Drone strikes endanger civilians and aid work in Sudan

Drone strikes are posing deadly risks to civilians in Sudan and hampering humanitarian efforts to reach them as attacks continue to affect conflict-hit areas, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Monday, 3 August 2026, according to a press release by UN News. The alert followed a reported drone strike a day earlier in the village of Ghara al Zawiya in North Darfur state, which caused dozens of casualties, according to the OHCHR. International media reported that at least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured in a strike by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on a traditional court on Sunday afternoon. The SAF and former allies, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been at war since April 2023. The renewed violence has intensified calls from the UN for de-escalation and unimpeded humanitarian access.

OCHA reported that renewed drone attacks in recent days in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, have also placed civilians, critical infrastructure and humanitarian operations at risk. The city has become a focal point for aid delivery as conflict continues across multiple regions. Humanitarian agencies remain active in the area despite mounting security challenges. OCHA noted that about $1.2 billion of the $2.9 billion required this year has been received to date. The office urged donors to increase support for the humanitarian response in Sudan.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said humanitarians are scaling up efforts to reach families hit by conflict in North Kordofan and will seize every opening to expand lifesaving aid in and around El Obeid. He called on the parties to de-escalate, protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access. The World Food Programme (WFP) stated it is continuing to provide food assistance to over 100,000 people in the city. Aid coordination continues amid ongoing hostilities. The situation in El Obeid was described as rapidly deteriorating.

On the diplomatic front, the United Nations and international partners, collectively known as the Quintet, continued consultations this past week with Sudanese political leadership across the spectrum. The Quintet brings together the Office of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, the African Union, regional development body (IGAD), the League of Arab States and the European Union. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists in New York that talks were held in support of an inclusive, Sudanese-led and owned process.

“Building on exploratory consultations held in Addis Ababa in June, the Quintet engaged Sudanese civilian political leaders in recent days,” he said.

Discussions focused on advancing the political process, including through confidence-building measures.

The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, continues to engage all parties and has urged them to make concrete commitments to de-escalation and engage in genuine dialogue towards a cessation of hostilities. On Sunday, he spoke with Sudan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Muhieddine Salem, to discuss recent developments and preparations for the envoy’s upcoming visit to Khartoum. They also discussed efforts to facilitate the holding of Sudanese national examinations for students in Chad. Mr. Haavisto continues to engage with RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, on practical measures to de-escalate the conflict. He is travelling to Türkiye this week to meet with national authorities and Sudanese stakeholders, including youth and women representatives.