The United Nations has strongly condemned the rising wave of deadly drone attacks across Sudan, which have led to the death of civilians and caused serious disruption to essential services in several parts of the country.
The global body expressed concern over the increasing use of drones in the ongoing conflict, warning that the attacks are worsening the humanitarian situation and putting the lives of innocent civilians at greater risk.
According to the UN, recent drone strikes have targeted residential areas, public infrastructure and medical facilities, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties.
The condemnation was made by the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York.
Dujarric said the organisation is deeply alarmed by the escalation of violence and the growing number of civilian casualties resulting from the drone attacks.
He disclosed that strikes recorded over the weekend in West Darfur, South Kordofan and North Kordofan claimed the lives of at least 19 people, including 10 children.
The UN spokesperson explained that many of the victims were innocent civilians, including women and children, who were caught in the attacks in their homes and communities.
He noted that the attacks in the three states also left several other persons injured, with many of them in critical condition and in need of urgent medical attention.
Dujarric said the situation is particularly disturbing because the attacks are occurring in areas where civilians are already facing severe hardship due to the prolonged conflict in Sudan.
He added that the continued use of drones to target civilian-populated areas violates international humanitarian law and must be stopped immediately.
In the capital city, Khartoum, Dujarric said a drone attack that occurred yesterday claimed the life of one civilian and caused disruption to commercial flights near the international airport.
According to him, the attack near the airport created panic among travellers and airline operators, forcing a temporary disruption of flight operations and putting more lives at risk.
He said the targeting of areas close to critical infrastructure such as airports poses a serious threat to civilian safety and to the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The UN spokesperson also condemned the killing of a volunteer of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society in an attack on a medical facility last week.
He described the killing of the humanitarian worker as unacceptable and a clear violation of international laws that protect medical personnel and facilities during armed conflict.
Dujarric explained that the volunteer was on duty providing assistance to those in need when the medical facility came under attack, leading to his death.
He said attacks on healthcare facilities and humanitarian workers further worsen the suffering of civilians, as they prevent sick and wounded persons from accessing life-saving treatment.
The UN therefore called on all parties to the conflict in Sudan to respect international humanitarian law and to ensure the protection of civilians, including children, women, medical workers and humanitarian personnel.
It also urged the warring factions to take all necessary measures to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, schools, airports and markets.
Dujarric said the UN is calling for greater protection of humanitarian workers who are risking their lives to provide assistance to millions of people affected by the conflict.
He stressed that humanitarian workers must be allowed to carry out their duties without fear of attack, intimidation or harassment.
According to the UN, Sudan is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with millions of people displaced, thousands killed and essential services severely disrupted since the conflict broke out.
The organisation warned that the continued escalation of drone attacks will further complicate efforts to deliver humanitarian aid and to restore peace and stability in the country.
It therefore called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to embrace dialogue as a means of resolving the conflict.
The UN also appealed to the international community to intensify efforts towards finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Sudan and to provide more support for humanitarian operations.
It reaffirmed its commitment to continue working with partners to assist the people of Sudan and to advocate for the protection of civilians and respect for human rights.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies operating in Sudan have continued to call for safe and unhindered access to affected communities to enable them to deliver food, water, medical supplies and other essential assistance.
They noted that insecurity, attacks on aid workers and destruction of infrastructure have made it increasingly difficult to reach those in desperate need of help, especially in Darfur and Kordofan regions.
Observers say the situation in Sudan requires urgent international attention, as the country continues to grapple with widespread violence, displacement and a deteriorating humanitarian situation that has left millions vulnerable.
