Drone attacks in Sudan have killed at least three children in the capital, Khartoum, while separate strikes in the Kordofan region have reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including women and children. The attacks highlight the growing danger facing civilians as fighting intensifies between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to Emergency Lawyers, a group monitoring human rights violations during the conflict, the attack in Khartoum occurred on Monday, October 19, 2026, in the Imtidad Nasser neighbourhood east of the city’s airport. The three children killed were reportedly aged two, four and six.
The attacks come as the country’s devastating civil war continues to cause widespread casualties, displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Three Children Killed in Khartoum Drone Attack
Emergency Lawyers attributed the Khartoum attack to the RSF, although the paramilitary group had not immediately commented on the allegation.
A resident, Sayed Mustafa, told The Associated Press that he saw a drone flying towards the airport and heard anti-aircraft fire directed at it. He said an explosion followed shortly after the drone went down near the airport.
The rights group condemned the deaths, describing the incident as a humanitarian tragedy and calling for an investigation to establish responsibility and ensure accountability.
The strike is particularly significant because Khartoum has experienced a relative reduction in some forms of fighting compared with earlier stages of the war. However, the latest incident demonstrates that civilians in the capital remain vulnerable to aerial attacks.
Dozens Killed in Separate Attacks in West Kordofan
In a separate series of attacks over the weekend, Sudan’s military reportedly carried out drone strikes in West Kordofan province that killed dozens of civilians.
According to Emergency Lawyers, a drone strike hit a market in al-Muglad on Saturday. Another attack targeted the Al-Dabab area on Sunday, causing additional civilian deaths.
Women and children were among those reportedly killed in the strikes. The rights group condemned the attacks and called for respect for international humanitarian law, which requires parties to a conflict to protect civilians and distinguish civilian targets from military objectives.
The reported attacks underscore the risks faced by people living in frontline areas, where markets, residential neighbourhoods and other civilian locations can be caught up in the fighting.
Sudan’s Civil War Continues to Fuel Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 after tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF escalated into open fighting in Khartoum before spreading to other parts of the country.
The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project, although humanitarian organizations warn that the actual death toll may be considerably higher.
United Nations figures indicate that approximately 13 million people have been displaced from their homes, creating one of the world’s largest displacement and humanitarian crises.
The humanitarian situation remains especially alarming for children. An estimated 33.7 million people, including 17.3 million children, require assistance this year. Around 825,000 children are also estimated to be facing severe acute malnutrition.
Fighting and drought have further worsened food insecurity in Darfur and Kordofan, where some displacement camps have recorded malnutrition levels above famine thresholds.
International Pressure Grows to Protect Civilians
The increasing use of drones by both sides has intensified international concern about civilian casualties. United Nations officials have called for an end to drone attacks that endanger civilians and have urged the warring parties to pursue measures that could improve humanitarian protection.
The United States has also called for efforts towards a humanitarian truce and stronger restrictions on arms supplies to Sudan. However, divisions among members of the United Nations Security Council have complicated attempts to expand the existing arms embargo.
As attacks continue across Khartoum and Kordofan, humanitarian groups are calling for investigations into reported violations and stronger measures to protect civilians.
The latest deaths underline the devastating consequences of Sudan’s prolonged conflict, particularly for children and families who have already endured years of violence, displacement and food shortages.
Swifteradio.com
