Majority of people killed in Sudan’s drone attack on a displacement site in Blue Nile State are women and children

UN Women condemns in the strongest possible terms Friday’s drone attack on a displacement site in Wad Al-Mahi, Blue Nile State, Sudan, which killed and injured dozens of people, the majority of whom were women and children.

The attack comes amid escalating violence in Blue Nile State and a broader increase in drone strikes across Sudan. The growing frequency of these attacks is increasing the exposure of civilians, particularly women and girls, to the risk of death, injury and further displacement.

Since late September, Wad Al-Mahi has experienced large scale displacement, mostly women and children. Among those forced to flee are pregnant women who have been left with no choice but to give birth along the way, without access to medical assistance.

Displacement puts women and girls at an even greater risk of violence and exploitation, deepens poverty, and reduces their access to food and essential services.

Women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of caring for children, older persons and injured family members while struggling to secure food, water, shelter and health care under increasingly difficult conditions.

Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop. International humanitarian law must be respected. Accountability for violations is essential. UN Women joins calls for a prompt, independent and transparent investigation into this attack and for those responsible to be held accountable.

Women and girls in Sudan deserve safety, dignity and protection. Their rights, needs and leadership must remain at the centre of humanitarian action, recovery efforts and peacebuilding initiatives. As civilian suffering continues, urgent action to secure an immediate cessation of hostilities and advance a sustainable and inclusive peace remains critical.