Sudan – Drone attacks claim hundreds of lives and a UN call to protect civilians

According to information received by the Human Rights Office, more than 277 civilians were killed during the first two weeks of March alone, the majority of whom were victims of drone strikes, an indication of the increasing reliance on these “sophisticated and relatively cheap weapons in populated areas.”

This is what Marta Hurtado, spokeswoman for the United Nations Human Rights Office, said while speaking to reporters in Geneva, today, Tuesday, noting that these bloody attacks continued during the past week.

A bloody attack on the first day of Eid

In an attack that Hurtado described as “the bloodiest” – which occurred on the first day of Eid al-Fitr – air strikes and drones targeted Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur state, which is controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, killing at least 64 people, including seven women and 13 children. A doctor was killed, and eight health workers were injured, out of at least 89 people.

Hurtado reported that Al Daein Hospital has completely stopped operating, making it more difficult for many in the region to obtain their right to health care.

On the same day, in the Al-Dabba area of ​​the northern state, under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces, drone strikes targeted civilian infrastructure, including an electricity substation and an engineering college. Six people were reported killed and power was completely cut off in the area.

On the evening of March 21, 23 people, including women and children, were reportedly killed as a result of further drone strikes on a convoy of commercial vehicles in El Daein. In Al-Dabbah, it appears that other drone strikes were intercepted.

Regional implications

Ms. Marta Hurtado said that drone strikes are expanding to include other areas across Sudan’s borders, which portends the risk of a dangerous escalation that could lead to regional consequences. Drone raids were launched on the Al-Tina area on the Sudanese-Chadian border, following previous ground attacks launched by the Rapid Support Forces.

Hurtado said that the continuation of these attacks targeting civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure raises serious concerns about adherence to the basic principles of international humanitarian law, namely distinction, proportionality and precaution. She warned that these attacks “It may amount to war crimes.”

She explained that the United Nations Human Rights Office continues to document attacks on markets, energy and water infrastructure, and health facilities, noting that “health care facilities and their workers enjoy special protection against these attacks.”

She urged all states, especially those with influence, to do their utmost to stop arms transfers that fuel conflict and are used in flagrant disregard for the obligation to protect civilians in conflict areas.

It reminded the parties to this conflict of their binding obligations to protect civilians, stressing the need to renew diplomatic efforts in order to reach an immediate ceasefire to end the conflict.