Thirteen Lives Lost Amid Escalating Violence in Sudan

Thirteen Lives Lost Amid Escalating Violence in Sudan

On January 6, 2026, thirteen more lives, including those of children, were reported lost due to a drone strike in North Kordofan, Sudan. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric stated that these latest casualties are part of an ongoing surge in violence, particularly in Kordofan, which continues to place civilians in "extreme risk" and generate displacement. Rival military factions have been fighting for control of Sudan since April 2023, with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) gaining ground in the west and south, while the Sudanese army dominates most of the east, including the capital, effectively splitting the country.

More casualties were reported after drone attacks targeted areas at the epicenter of Sudan's food crisis, North Kordofan, just days before the country reaches a grim milestone of 1,000 days of deadly fighting. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Dujarric emphasized that between December 31 and January 4, violence forced nearly 1,000 people to flee a locality in South Kordofan. Additionally, around 2,000 individuals were displaced from an area in North Kordofan on Monday.

In total, approximately 65,000 people have been displaced from October to the end of December in the Kordofan region. The brutal war, involving external powers and destabilizing multiple countries in the region, has led to one of the largest displacement crises in the world, with over 12 million people affected, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Dujarric reiterated calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians, as well as rapid, safe, and sustained humanitarian access. At the same time, UN agencies are aiding in improving living conditions in the capital, Khartoum, as families return to rebuild their lives following the government's recapture of the city last year. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and its partners are helping to clear debris, creating short-term opportunities for locals and supporting the distribution of medical supplies, despite the damaged infrastructure.

Northeast of the capital, in the city of Ed-Damer, the program provides psychosocial support for women among other services.