Türk revealed that drone raids have sharply increased, killing more than 1,000 civilians in the first five months of 2026, alongside a disturbing surge in rape and sexual violence in conflict zones. Drone warfare has become a defining feature of Sudan’s conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk said: “In Sudan, the horrific conflict has expanded and intensified, marked by a sharp rise in the use of drones in warfare.” He noted that between January and May 2026, his office documented the deaths of over 1,000 civilians from drone strikes.
The High Commissioner also expressed deep concern over the spread of rape and sexual violence across Sudan. The war, now in its fourth year, has left tens of thousands dead. Some estimates suggest the toll has surpassed 200,000, with millions displaced inside and outside the country, and famine spreading in parts of Darfur and Kordofan.