At least five children killed in Nyala market strike as more than 400 children reported killed or injured between January and September 2026
UNICEF has warned of the growing toll of armed drone attacks on children and civilians in Sudan, following the killing of at least five children in a strike on a market in Nyala, South Darfur, on Oct. 26.
In a statement, UNICEF Executive Director Etleva Kadilli said the victims included three boys and two girls aged between seven and 14, while two other children were injured in the attack.
The incident came just a week after armed drone strikes reportedly killed at least 80 people, including women and children, at a busy market in Abyei on Oct. 19, highlighting the growing risks facing civilians amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
“Markets are places where families buy food and people work to make a living. A trip to the market should never cost a child their life,” Kadilli said.
She warned that armed drone attacks were increasingly taking a heavy toll on children and civilians across the country, with more than 400 children reported killed or injured between January and September 2026. Armed drone strikes accounted for a significant share of these casualties, according to UNICEF.
The attacks have also damaged homes and critical civilian infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities, water systems and markets, further undermining access to essential services for vulnerable communities.
Kadilli said that even ordinary daily activities, such as going to markets, attending school or seeking medical care, were becoming increasingly dangerous for children in Sudan.
“Children should be able to go to a market, attend school or seek health care without risking their lives,” she affirmed.
With Sudan’s conflict entering its fourth year, UNICEF is calling for greater protection of children from violence and attacks targeting civilian areas.
“After more than three years of conflict, children in Sudan need greater protection from violence, not new ways for the conflict to reach them. The killing and injuring of children must end,” Kadilli noted.
The latest warning underscores the mounting humanitarian and protection challenges facing children in Sudan, where continued attacks on civilian infrastructure and essential services are worsening an already devastating crisis.
