The United Nations has revealed that nearly 700 civilians have been killed in drone strikes in Sudan since January, as the country’s civil war continues to escalate.

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher disclosed the figures, describing the situation as part of the “world’s largest humanitarian crisis,” with the conflict now entering its fourth year.

The war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 11 million people.

According to Fletcher, the drone strikes have intensified in recent months, severely disrupting daily life, particularly in southern Kordofan and conflict-hit regions like Darfur.

He warned that the crisis has left nearly 34 million people, about two-thirds of Sudan’s population, in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The UN also highlighted worsening hunger, widespread displacement, and increasing cases of malnutrition among children, alongside reports of systemic violence against women and girls.

Despite efforts that reached about 17 million people last year, the humanitarian response remains critically underfunded, with only a fraction of the required aid secured.

The UN has called for urgent global action to end the violence, protect civilians, and increase funding, warning that the situation poses a growing risk of wider regional instability.