Drone attacks disrupting aid and civilian life in Sudan, UN says

May 7, 2025 (UNITED NATIONS) – Intensifying drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Sudan, particularly in the eastern city of Port Sudan, are raising grave concerns for the safety of humanitarian staff and operations, a United Nations spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, told reporters at a noon briefing that drone attacks reportedly struck an airport area, a fuel storage facility, and a power transformer in Port Sudan early on May 6.

While no UN personnel or facilities were directly hit, Haq, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the escalating violence poses a “growing risk.” He noted that flights of the UN Humanitarian Air Service to and from Port Sudan remain suspended.

The impact of such attacks extends beyond Port Sudan. Haq highlighted that prolonged power outages, resulting from drone strikes targeting power stations, continue to disrupt civilian life in other parts of the country.

In Northern State, a month-long power blackout has reportedly prevented farmers from operating electrical water pumps, leading to the destruction of over 84 square kilometers of crops. Similarly, in River Nile State, the “targeted destruction of power infrastructure has led to severe water supply shortages,” Haq stated.

Despite the challenging security situation, humanitarian efforts persist. Haq reported that aid organizations are mobilizing assistance for 35,000 people in Ed Daein, East Darfur, who have fled from Khartoum and Aj Jazirah States. In Kassala State, efforts are being scaled up to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene, alongside public health outreach, to combat the spread of hepatitis E.