Sudans Drone War Raises Concerns for Civilian Safety and Relief Efforts
Moatinoon
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over recent reports of drone strikes carried out by the Rapid Support Forces near Port Sudan Airport, in eastern Sudan, which has so far largely escaped the devastation of the two-year-old war.
Several regional countries condemned the attacks targeting the cities of Kassala and Port Sudan in recent days, warning of the spillover effects of the war in Sudan on the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
"These attacks appear to be the latest in a series of retaliatory military operations by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces targeting airports in their respective areas of control," UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters in New York on Monday.
Fighting between the governments military forces and the Rapid Support Forces, former allies turned rivals for power, began in April 2023. The war has devastated large parts of the country, killing thousands and displacing more than 8.6 million people, according to UN agencies.
As the conflict raged in Khartoum, Darfur, and other areas, Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast remained a relative safe haven and a major hub for UN and international relief efforts.
Multiple Drone Attacks
The Rapid Support Forces carried out drone attacks on a military base and other targets on Sunday near the airport, and on Monday, a second series of attacks targeted fuel depots in the eastern part of Port Sudan, according to recent news reports.
The Rapid Support Forces have not yet claimed responsibility for Mondays attacks, which set fire to fuel storage facilities, in what the military described as an attack on civilian infrastructure.
Call for Urgent Dialogue
Mr. Haq stressed that the attack on Port Sudan was a "worrying development that threatens the protection of civilians and humanitarian operations" in the city, which has become a lifeline for humanitarian aid throughout the country.
Mr. Haq added that the Secretary-General "renews his call for urgent dialogue between the warring parties to achieve an immediate cessation of hostilities and an inclusive political process." This is essential to prevent further escalation, protect civilians, and return Sudan to the path of peace and stability.
On the humanitarian front, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that the drone strikes did not directly impact its operations in Port Sudan.
UN Relief Operations Continue
Mr. Haq confirmed, "None of our offices, headquarters, or warehouses have been affected, and we continue to carry out our normal operations."
However, he added that the situation is being closely monitored, and UN Humanitarian Air Service flights to and from the city have been temporarily suspended.
Beyond Port Sudan, recent airstrikes on power stations across Sudan have disrupted electricity and clean water supplies, worsening the living conditions of displaced families and returnees.
"We call on all parties to this conflict to ensure that civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targeted. Wars have rules, and international humanitarian law must be respected," said the UN deputy spokesperson.
