120 Million Displaced as Sudan Drone Strikes Kill Over 1,000 Civilians This Year

The United Nations reported that the global displaced population has reached 120 million, marking the 12th consecutive year of increase [177489][177498]. Conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, and Myanmar are the main drivers, with over 11 million people displaced within Sudan alone [177489]. The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, says the figure has nearly doubled in the last decade [177498].

In Sudan, the use of drone warfare has escalated sharply during the three-year conflict. The UN reported that more than 1,000 civilians have been killed by drone strikes since January, calling it a turning point in the war [177538]. UN rights chief Volker Türk has demanded urgent regulation of drone warfare, saying the attacks have caused widespread suffering and calling for accountability to prevent future atrocities [173495]. The UN describes Sudan’s situation as the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis” [177538].

The displacement crisis is not new for many Sudanese families. Generations have been forced to flee repeatedly as conflict and instability grip the country, with children now growing up hearing the same stories their grandparents told of abandoned homes and journeys on foot [177495]. Experts say this cycle is a deep wound passed from one generation to the next [177495].

Human rights groups have also accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Sudan’s war, while civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict [172200]. A beloved family park in Khartoum has been turned into a minefield and is now a top priority in a large-scale mine-clearing operation [174947].

The UN is calling for more funding and for nations to keep their borders open, warning that without political solutions, the numbers will continue to climb [177489][177498].