U.N. Condemns Violence and Child Casualties in Sudan Conflict

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Over 300 children have been killed or injured in Sudan’s conflict over the past six months, with about 60% of casualties caused by drone strikes amid fighting between the military and Rapid Support Forces in key regions like Kordofan and Darfur. The escalating violence has prompted a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution condemning hostilities and calling for increased humanitarian aid and protection for civilians.

The conflict in Sudan has resulted in the deaths or injuries of more than 300 children over the past six months, with the majority of casualties attributed to drone strikes, the United Nations children’s agency reported on Monday. Fighting between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has persisted since April 2023, primarily affecting the Kordofan, Darfur, and Blue Nile states.

UNICEF revealed that drone warfare accounts for around 60% of child casualties in the conflict, which has intensified around the strategic city of El Obeid in North Kordofan. The escalating violence has drawn concern from the United Nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other international actors, who fear potential atrocities as the RSF and the Sudanese military vie for control of the area.

On Monday, the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution condemning the increasing hostilities by the RSF and its allies in El Obeid and surrounding regions. The measure, introduced by five European countries and passed without a formal vote, also called for increased support to nations hosting Sudanese refugees and denounced all forms of external interference in the conflict.

The war has caused at least 59,000 fatalities and displaced approximately 13 million people, pushing large parts of Sudan into famine. More than 30 million individuals are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Attacks involving drone strikes and shelling have targeted critical civilian infrastructure such as schools, markets, and fuel and water stations, placing over 500,000 people at imminent risk. Some communities have endured near-siege conditions for more than a year.

“Children are being caught in a relentless cycle of violence, displacement and deprivation,” Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, said in a statement. The United Nations has urged all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, and take all feasible measures to shield children from harm.

In a separate incident on Monday, authorities reported the deaths of at least 15 informal miners following the partial collapse of a defunct gold mine in the Wadi Halfa district near Sudan’s border with Egypt. One miner was injured in the accident at the Mohamed Tawfiq mine, where artisanal miners had resumed excavations despite prior closures over safety concerns by the state-run Sudanese Mineral Resources Company.

Sudan is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, with official figures showing production of 70 tons last year, up from 64 tons in 2024. Artisanal and small-scale mining make up the majority of gold extraction in the country, where safety regulations are often overlooked. Previous mine collapses have killed at least seven workers in the Red Sea province in May and 13 more in South Kordofan in January.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.