UNICEF Warns Drones and Drought Threaten Sudan's Children
UNICEF reports that drone strikes and severe drought are causing mass child casualties and acute malnutrition across Sudan.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder warned on November 10, 2026, that a lethal combination of escalating drone attacks and severe drought is creating an existential threat to children in Sudan. During a briefing in Geneva, Elder reported that drones caused two out of every three child casualties in the country this year, with 270 of the 410 children killed or injured between January and September attributed to these strikes.
In October 2026, armed drones struck up to 15 power stations, with attacks occurring daily during the final week of the month. These strikes disrupted water pumps and treatment facilities, which increased the spread of cholera and compromised the cold storage required for vaccines. While the conflict involves the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, humanitarian agencies have not yet established which group is responsible for the power station attacks.
Simultaneously, El Niño-induced drought and fuel shortages have largely closed the planting window for the 2026-27 cereal harvest. UNICEF estimates that 825,000 children under five will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year. The agency is calling for an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure and safe access across conflict lines, noting that its Sudan response is currently only one-third funded.
