Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Children in Sudan are suffering severely amid escalating conflict, with drone attacks responsible for 60 percent of child casualties, UNICEF stated. Since the war began between rival militaries in April 2023, children have been killed and injured inside homes, on roads, in markets, and while seeking education and healthcare, said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF's Sudan representative, emphasizing the urgent need to protect children's lives, rights, and futures.
More than 35 children have reportedly been victims of drone strikes and other attacks in North Kordofan's El Obeid region since May 2026, with at least 18 killed and 17 injured. These affected children range from infants as young as two months to teenagers aged 17. The situation in El Obeid, along with the wider North Kordofan area and Darfur and Kordofan states, remains particularly grave, with approximately 500,000 civilians at risk, according to UNICEF.
Beyond immediate death and injury, ongoing drone strikes and shelling have damaged civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, health facilities, water systems, and markets. These attacks have disrupted essential supply routes and strained services, worsening fear, anxiety, and trauma among children, especially those experiencing repeated bombardments and displacement.
UNICEF warned that children are exposed to grave violations, such as recruitment, abduction, sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals. The agency called on all conflict parties to protect civilians and civilian structures and to take all measures to shield children from harm.
UNICEF and other UN bodies, including the World Health Organization, have urged all sides to allow safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access to assist vulnerable populations and to support efforts to combat outbreaks such as cholera.