More than 300 children killed in Sudan war in 6 months, mostly in drone strikes, UNICEF says
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- UNICEF reported that more than 300 children were killed or injured in Sudan's war over the past six months, with drone strikes causing 60% of those casualties.
- The conflict between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ongoing since April 2023, is now concentrated in the Kordofan, Darfur, and Blue Nile states.
- The U.N.-backed Human Rights Council approved a measure in Geneva on Monday condemning escalating RSF violence around el-Obeid; the resolution was brought by five European countries and passed without a vote.
- The broader war has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced some 13 million, pushed parts of Sudan into famine, and left more than 30 million in need of humanitarian assistance.
- Drone strikes and shelling have hit civilian infrastructure including schools, markets, and fuel and water stations, putting over 500,000 people at risk under near-siege conditions for more than a year.
- Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative for Sudan, said children are "caught in a relentless cycle of violence, displacement and deprivation," while the U.N. called on all parties to protect civilians and allow unimpeded humanitarian access.
Why it matters: With drone warfare now driving 60% of child casualties and a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution condemning RSF violence around el-Obeid passing without opposition, the international response is formalizing — yet the staggering scale (59,000 dead, 13 million displaced, 30 million needing aid) shows civilian protection is not keeping pace with the conflict's escalation.
