Civilian Deaths Soar in Sudan Conflict, UN Reports

Photo: Reuters

Sudan is facing a severe rise in civilian deaths this year, the United Nations has reported. The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused widespread violence, making Sudan’s humanitarian situation one of the worst in the world.

According to a new report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at least 3,384 civilians were killed in the first six months of 2025. Most of these deaths occurred in Darfur, an area long affected by ethnic tensions. The number represents nearly 80% of the civilian casualties recorded in Sudan last year.

The UN highlighted that artillery shelling, air strikes, and drone attacks were responsible for the majority of civilian deaths. Many of these fatalities occurred during the RSF’s attacks on the city of El Fasher and on ZamZam and Abu Shouk camps, which house thousands of displaced people.

The report also revealed that at least 990 civilians were killed in summary executions between January and June. These killings, particularly concentrated in Khartoum, tripled between February and April. This spike followed the SAF’s operation to regain control of Khartoum from the RSF in late March.

Jeremy Laurence, OHCHR spokesperson, shared eyewitness accounts of the violence. One witness described how children as young as 14 or 15 were accused of being RSF fighters and killed without trial during SAF search operations in civilian neighborhoods in East Nile, Khartoum.

The conflict, which started in April 2023, has not only caused massive loss of life but also destroyed homes, hospitals, and schools, leaving millions of civilians in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The UN has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and safe access for humanitarian assistance to protect the civilian population.

Li Fung, OHCHR’s representative for Sudan, said: “Every day we are receiving more reports of horrors on the ground. Civilians are bearing the brunt of this conflict, and urgent action is needed to save lives.”

The UN report stresses that continued fighting without accountability will only worsen the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. International organizations have urged both sides of the conflict to protect civilians, respect international law, and allow humanitarian agencies to provide aid.

As the situation develops, the world is watching Sudan closely. Experts warn that without immediate intervention, the country could face even greater civilian suffering and destabilization.