The United Nations has warned that escalating drone attacks across Sudan are posing an increasingly deadly threat to civilians while severely disrupting humanitarian operations aimed at reaching millions affected by the country's ongoing conflict.

The warning was issued on Monday by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a day after a reported drone strike in the village of Ghara al-Zawiya in Sudan's North Darfur state left dozens of people dead or injured.

According to information shared by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), the attack caused heavy civilian casualties. International media reports said at least 35 people were killed and dozens more wounded when a drone struck a traditional court gathering on Sunday afternoon. The reported strike has been attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), although independent verification remains limited.

Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), triggering one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.

OCHA also expressed concern over renewed drone attacks in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, warning that continued strikes are placing civilians, critical infrastructure, and humanitarian relief efforts at increasing risk.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said humanitarian agencies are intensifying efforts to reach conflict-affected communities in North Kordofan and will continue expanding life-saving assistance wherever access becomes possible.

He called on all parties to the conflict to de-escalate hostilities, protect civilians, and guarantee safe and unhindered humanitarian access for aid organizations operating across the country.

The UN also renewed its appeal for greater international financial support for Sudan's humanitarian response. OCHA noted that only around $1.2 billion has been received toward the $2.9 billion required to fund relief operations this year, leaving millions of vulnerable people at risk of losing access to essential assistance.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said representatives of the international mediation mechanism known as the Quintet held consultations over the past week with Sudanese political leaders from across the political spectrum.

The Quintet comprises the Office of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States, and the European Union. The consultations are intended to support an inclusive, Sudanese-led political process aimed at ending the conflict.

According to the UN, the latest discussions built upon exploratory consultations held in Addis Ababa in June and focused on proposals for advancing political dialogue, including confidence-building measures designed to facilitate negotiations between the parties.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres' Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, has continued engaging with both civilian and military actors in an effort to encourage meaningful dialogue and secure commitments toward reducing violence.

On Sunday, Haavisto held talks with Sudanese Foreign Minister Muhieddine Salem to discuss recent developments and preparations for his upcoming visit to Khartoum. The two also discussed efforts to facilitate national examinations for Sudanese students currently displaced in neighboring Chad.

The UN envoy has also remained in contact with RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, as part of ongoing efforts to explore practical measures that could help reduce hostilities and pave the way for negotiations.

Haavisto is scheduled to travel to Türkiye later this week, where he will meet with Turkish officials and members of the Sudanese community, including youth and women's representatives, as diplomatic efforts continue to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The United Nations has repeatedly stressed that without an immediate reduction in violence, improved humanitarian access, and sustained political dialogue, Sudan's humanitarian crisis is likely to deteriorate further, leaving millions more civilians in urgent need of protection and assistance. (ILKHA)