Khartoum: Sudan’s brutal civil war is taking an increasingly heavy toll on children as the growing use of drones turns homes, schools and other civilian areas into dangerous places. At least 330 children were reported killed or injured in Sudan during the first six months of 2026, according to figures highlighted by the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF.
Around 60 percent of these child casualties were linked to drone attacks, showing how the nature of the conflict is changing. Drones have become a major weapon in the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Civilians, including children, are increasingly being caught in attacks as fighting spreads across populated areas.
The actual number of children killed and injured could be much higher than the documented figure. Large parts of Sudan remain difficult for aid workers and independent observers to reach. Communication networks have also been disrupted in several areas, while continued fighting makes it difficult to collect reliable information about casualties.
The worsening situation around El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, has raised fresh concerns about the safety of children. Recent fighting in and around the city has reportedly displaced more than 5,500 children. Many families have been forced to leave their homes and search for safety in areas where food, clean water, shelter and medical services are already limited.
El Obeid has become one of the most important areas in the conflict. Its strategic location and transport connections make the city valuable to both sides. As military pressure increases, humanitarian organisations fear that civilians could face even greater danger.
Reports from the area have described repeated drone attacks affecting residential neighbourhoods and important civilian infrastructure. Hospitals, electricity facilities and other essential services have come under growing pressure. The destruction and disruption caused by the fighting are making daily life harder for people who have already endured more than three years of war.
The wider civilian cost of drone warfare is also becoming clearer. United Nations figures reported in June showed that more than 1,000 civilians were killed in drone attacks across Sudan during the first five months of 2026. The number highlights how drones have become a central part of the war and how their growing use is increasing risks for civilians far from traditional front lines.
Sudan’s conflict began in April 2023 after tensions between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces developed into open warfare. The fighting first caused widespread destruction in the capital, Khartoum, and later intensified in Darfur and other parts of the country. In recent months, Kordofan has become another major centre of conflict.
For children, the consequences go far beyond the immediate danger of bombs and drone attacks. Millions have been affected by displacement, hunger, the closure of schools and the collapse of health services. Many children have lost parents or other family members, while others have been forced to leave their communities with little more than the clothes they were wearing.
Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that children are among the most vulnerable victims of the war. Families fleeing violence often travel through dangerous areas and arrive at displacement sites that lack enough food, water and medical care. Children who are injured may also struggle to receive proper treatment because hospitals have been damaged, closed or overwhelmed by the number of patients.
The increasing use of drones adds another layer of fear. Unlike fighting limited to clear battle lines, drone attacks can reach areas far from ground clashes. For families, this means that places once considered relatively safe can suddenly become targets or be affected by nearby strikes.
The situation in and around El Obeid is now being closely watched as fighting continues. Humanitarian workers fear that further escalation could force more families from their homes and deepen an already severe crisis.
As Sudan’s war continues, the growing number of child casualties is a reminder that the youngest members of society are paying a devastating price. Behind every casualty figure is a child, a family and a community affected by a conflict that has already displaced millions and created one of the world’s most serious humanitarian emergencies.