United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk strongly condemned the increasing use of these weapons in the brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which recently entered its fourth year.
“Armed drones have now become by far the leading cause of civilian deaths,” said.
“This increasing reliance on drones allows hostilities to continue unabated into the upcoming rainy season, which in the past has caused a pause in ground operations.”
The international community warns
The High Commissioner warned of a further spread of violence in the coming weeks “as parties seek to gain or consolidate control of territory amid changing conflict dynamics” that could lead to further displacement and disruptions to humanitarian aid.
“This should not be allowed to happen,” he said. “The international community is aware that, unless action is taken without delay, This conflict is about to enter another new, even deadlier phase.”
Epicenter of the strikes in the Kordofan region
The majority of civilian deaths attributed to drone strikes between January and April were recorded in the Kordofan region.
The most recent incident occurred on May 8, when 26 civilians were reportedly killed and others injured in attacks on Al Quz in South Kordofan and near El Obeid in North Kordofan.
The warring parties have repeatedly attacked civilian assets and infrastructure. This includes markets, where at least 28 of these attacks caused civilian casualties.
Health facilities have been attacked at least 12 times during the four-month period. Some have closed their doors, forcing civilians to travel long distances to receive care or go without it.
Fuel warehouses and supply routes have also come under repeated attacks in recent weeks.
The use of drones is expanding
The use of drones by both sides in the conflict is increasingly extending beyond the Kordofan and Darfur regions to the Blue Nile, White Nile and Khartoum.
An attack on Khartoum International Airport on May 4 led to the disruption of all flights, while between April 28 and May 5, several targeted drone strikes occurred in other parts of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman.
“The intensity of these attacks has shattered the relative calm that has prevailed in recent months, as increasing numbers of civilians have returned to the capital, and sparked fears of a return of hostilities to Khartoum.”said Mr. Türk.
A likely escalation of hostilities in Kordofan will also put civilians at greater risk of retaliatory attacks and further large-scale displacement, he added. This is particularly the case in the towns of El Obeid and Dilling in South Kordofan, controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces, which have been under siege-like conditions.
Humanitarian access is affected
The escalation of violence would also disrupt humanitarian operations, the High Commissioner warned.
“Much of the country, including Kordofan, now faces an increased risk of famine and acute food insecurity, exacerbated by expected delays or shortages of fertilizers as a result of the Gulf crisis,” he said.
In response to the situation, the UN human rights chief called for strong measures to prevent the transfer of weapons, including increasingly advanced armed drones, to parties in Sudan.
“Drone attacks on civilians and civilian objects will only get worse if faced with absolute impunity, and this violence is increasingly normalized as a tactic on both sides.” said.
Mr. Türk again called on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians, including safe movement from areas of active hostilities.
They must also be protected from reprisals, including summary executions, sexual violence, arbitrary detentions and kidnappings, he added.
