Updated: 3 October 2026 13:43:03
400 Children Killed or Injured by Drone Strikes in Sudan This Year
Moatinoon
More than 400 children in Sudan have been killed or injured in drone attacks, while dozens of families have been displaced from the city of El Obeid for the second time, according to UNICEF.
UNICEF Representative in Sudan Angela Kearney stated—in a press release issued on Friday, October 2—that a drone strike on the "Land Port" (Al-Mina Al-Barri) displacement center in El Obeid, North Kordofan State, resulted in the death of one boy and injuries to 12 children (five boys and seven girls), according to reports.
Kearney added: "Children and families at the Land Port had already been forced to leave their homes and flee to shelter sites and centers, with many having been displaced multiple times." She noted that the children had come to these locations seeking safety and protection, but that sense of security was shattered in El Obeid this week.
She emphasized the need to halt attacks on places where children seek refuge and protection, stressing that these children have nowhere else to go and that this incident is the latest example of the escalating impact of drone attacks on children in Sudan.
She stated, "Between January and September 2024, there were reports of more than 400 children killed or injured, with drone attacks accounting for a significant proportion of these child casualties." These attacks have damaged homes and civilian infrastructure—including schools, health facilities, water networks, and markets—disrupting essential services and heightening the risks faced by children and families affected by the ongoing conflict.
Kearney explained that the children and families affected by the reported strike in El Obeid are among the most vulnerable, noting that many people in displacement sites across Sudan have been forced to flee their homes repeatedly as conflict and insecurity spread to new areas. She pointed out that families often arrive only after exhausting all other options in their search for safety, and continue to face significant challenges in accessing basic services, protection, and support.
UNICEF called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, emphasizing that civilians—including children—must be protected at all times.
