Drone Strikes and Sexual Violence Create Dual Terror in El Obeid

Women and girls in El Obeid, Sudan, are trapped in a cycle of violence described as dual terror. UN Women reports that drone strikes targeting water distribution sites and civilian infrastructure during the day force women to collect water after dark, where they face systemic harassment and rape. This pattern mirrors previous atrocities documented in El Fasher.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) notes that these strikes have disrupted electricity and water access, while fuel costs have surged and hospitals struggle with power rationing. The crisis is compounded by a cholera outbreak, with the World Health Organization reporting 1,330 cases in early July, and rising rates of malnutrition. UN human rights officials state that drone strikes killed at least 880 civilians in the first four months of 2026, representing over 80% of civilian deaths during that period.

The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has left an estimated 12.7 million women and girls in need of gender-based violence services in 2026, a fourfold increase since the war began. Funding cuts have forced two-thirds of women-led organizations to reduce or cease critical services. UN officials are calling for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access as the region enters the peak of the rainy season.