The ongoing war in Sudan between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in the death or injury of at least 330 children during the first six months of 2026, according to a statement released by UNICEF. The UN children’s agency highlighted that children are increasingly being caught in crossfires inside their homes, on public roads, in local markets, and while attempting to access critical health or educational services.
A substantial driver behind these casualties is the extensive deployment of drone strikes by both warring factions. UNICEF noted that drone warfare has killed more than 1,000 people across the country this year, accounting for roughly 60 percent of all child casualties in the Kordofan region alone. The town of El-Obeid in North Kordofan has borne the brunt of relentless paramilitary drone strikes, damaging critical infrastructure such as water systems, power stations, and schools.
The United Nations has raised a high-level alert as the RSF appears to be positioning itself for a major offensive on El-Obeid, endangering over half a million residents. Beyond immediate physical dangers, the humanitarian crisis remains severe; five million children are currently internally displaced across Sudan, and more than 825,000 children under the age of five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
