Sudan Crisis Deepens Amid Rising Civilian Casualties and Growing Ethnic Violence

The conflict-driven crisis in Sudan has intensified in the first half of 2025, with a significant rise in civilian killings, including summary executions, amid growing ethnic violence and a worsening humanitarian situation. The UN Human Rights Office has documented the deaths of at least 3,384 civilians, mostly in Darfur, Kordofan, and Khartoum, representing nearly 80% of all civilian casualties documented during the whole of 2025. The report highlights recurring patterns of conflict-related sexual violence, used as a weapon of war, and attacks directed against civilians and wilful killings, which are serious violations of international humanitarian law and the right to life under international human rights law.

Key Takeaways:

• At least 3,384 civilians were killed in the first half of 2025, mostly in Darfur, Kordofan, and Khartoum, with 70% of casualties occurring during the conduct of hostilities.
• Seventy percent of casualties (2,398) occurred during the conduct of hostilities, as the parties continued to launch attacks in densely populated areas, using artillery shelling, airstrikes, and drones.
• The report documents the unlawful killing of at least 990 civilians outside the conduct of hostilities, including through summary executions, with the number of such killings tripling between February and April due to a surge in summary executions in Khartoum.
• The conflict has led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with 24.6 million people facing acute food insecurity amid rising risk of famine, 19 million lacking access to safe water and sanitation, and a continuing cholera outbreak.
• At least 30 humanitarian and health workers have been killed in the six-month period covered by the report, including in targeted attacks.
• Widespread arbitrary detention, often targeting individuals accused of collaborating with the opposing side, and involving ethnic profiling, has been reported, with at least seven journalists and media workers reportedly killed in the first half of 2025.
• The increasing ethnicisation of the conflict poses grave risks for longer-term stability and social cohesion within the country, according to UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk.

Statistics:

• At least 3,384 civilians were killed in the first half of 2025.
• 70% of casualties (2,398) occurred during the conduct of hostilities.
• 80% of all civilian casualties documented during the whole of 2025 were in the first half of 2025 (3,384 out of 4,238).
• 24.6 million people are facing acute food insecurity amid rising risk of famine.
• 19 million people lack access to safe water and sanitation.
• At least 30 humanitarian and health workers have been killed in the six-month period covered by the report.
• At least 7 journalists and media workers were reportedly killed in the first half of 2025.

Sources:

• The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
• UNMISS-report-human-rights-situation-in-sudan-1-january-30-juin-2025.pdf (https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/south-sudan/UNMISS-report-human-rights-situation-in-sudan-1-january-30-juin-2025.pdf)
• Original text here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/sudan-crisis-deepens-amid-rising-civilian-casualties-growing-ethnic-violence