The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has condemned a wave of drone strikes that have hit key civilian infrastructure in Port Sudan, warning that the attacks threaten to deepen an already dire humanitarian crisis in the country.
“These attacks on civilian infrastructure are unacceptable and must come to an immediate end,” said Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, in a statement released Thursday.
“Port Sudan has long served as a vital humanitarian and logistical lifeline for millions of Sudanese. Any assault on this critical hub further compounds human suffering.”
The strikes have reportedly damaged essential facilities, including Port Sudan International Airport, a fuel depot, and an electricity substation.
The city, until now considered a relatively stable area, has become a focal point for aid operations and for those fleeing violence elsewhere in the country.
Dr. Gebeyehu warned that the violence not only endangers civilians but also hampers the delivery of life-saving aid to other regions gripped by conflict.
His remarks were echoed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who earlier this week expressed “deep concern” over drone attacks near the airport.
A UN spokesperson said the Secretary-General urged “an immediate cessation of hostilities and an inclusive political process” to avert further chaos and restore hope for peace.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s top humanitarian official in Sudan, described the latest strikes as a major blow to humanitarian operations.
“The intensifying drone attacks on Port Sudan are devastating,” she said. “They’re hitting the airport, fuel facilities, and power transformers — infrastructure that is critical for getting aid in and distributing it across the country.”
She added that without access to fuel and stable air transport, the movement of medical supplies, food, and personnel to areas in need is severely compromised.
“We’re already facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. This will only make it worse,” she said.
Sudan has been locked in a brutal conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Since then, over eight million people have been displaced, according to UN figures, and essential services have collapsed in many areas.
While neither warring side has claimed responsibility for the Port Sudan strikes, the RSF has been accused in earlier incidents.
Reports also indicate that drone attacks have extended beyond Port Sudan to Kassala in the east, where even refugee gathering points near Kassala Airport have come under fire.
Since the beginning of the year, critical infrastructure across Sudan has suffered repeated attacks. Power stations, water systems, and oil refineries have all been targeted.
The result: rolling blackouts, water shortages, and rising food prices in a nation already pushed to the brink.
“These acts are a clear violation of international humanitarian law,” said a senior IGAD official familiar with the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Civilians and civilian facilities are not legitimate targets — period.”
IGAD said it remains fully committed to finding a peaceful solution. “We urge all parties to stop the fighting and come to the table,” Dr. Gebeyehu said.
“This war is destroying lives and threatening the stability of the entire region.”
For now, Port Sudan — once a refuge — is a city on edge, its skies buzzing with the sound of drones and its streets filled with displaced families looking for safety that seems increasingly hard to find.
