Nearly 700 civilians have been killed by drone strikes in Sudan since January, according to United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher. The figures were released Tuesday, marking a grim milestone as the Sudanese civil war enters its fourth year.
Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-all general for humanitarian affairs, said the international community has "failed to meet the test of Sudan" during three years of conflict. The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has displaced more than 11 million people.
Recent months have seen near-daily drone strikes across the country. These attacks have particularly impacted the southern Kordofan region and RSF-controlled areas in the west, including Darfur.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
The conflict has created what Fletcher described as the "world's largest humanitarian crisis." Approximately 34 million people, or nearly two-thirds of the population, now require humanitarian assistance.
Fletcher noted that hunger is rising as the lean season approaches. He reported that hundreds of thousands of children are suffering from acute malnutrition, while millions of students have been deprived of education.
Beyond food insecurity, the UN chief highlighted the systemic and brutal sexual violence facing women and girls. He warned that the displacement of entire communities poses a high risk of wider regional instability.
Despite the scale of the catastrophe, Fletcher stated that the humanitarian response remains "critically underfunded." While aid agencies reached 17 million people last year, they aim to assist 20 million this year.
Denise Brown, the UN's resident coordinator in Sudan, confirmed the lack of resources. The UN appeal to raise $2.9 billion for the country is currently only 16 percent funded.
