KHARTOUM – Drone attacks on electricity facilities across Sudan are damaging critical civilian infrastructure and threatening essential services for millions of people, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
A major electricity substation serving Khartoum State was reportedly struck by a drone on Tuesday, a day after attacks hit power stations in Al Jazirah, Sennar and Gedaref states.
Local authorities reported extensive damage and warned that repeated strikes could threaten the stability of Sudan’s national electricity grid.
Power facilities have increasingly come under attack as drone warfare expands across Sudan’s conflict, disrupting electricity supplies far beyond traditional front lines.
The consequences extend beyond household power cuts. Hospitals, dialysis centres, water pumping stations, bakeries, communications networks and food-storage facilities depend on reliable electricity supplies.
OCHA stressed that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including electricity and water facilities, must be protected under international humanitarian law.
The latest attacks come as Sudan faces overlapping humanitarian pressures from conflict, mass displacement, food insecurity and drought.
Sudan’s Health Ministry launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign on Monday with support from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other partners.
The campaign aims to reach about 11 million children despite insecurity and disruptions affecting health services across the country.
At the same time, the World Food Programme warned that funding shortages could force it to halt food assistance to around 900,000 people beginning next month.
The warning comes as millions of Sudanese face worsening food insecurity and humanitarian agencies struggle to maintain operations in conflict-affected areas.
OCHA called for urgent additional funding to sustain life-saving assistance as the war and El Niño-related drought continue to increase humanitarian needs.
