UN warns of rising landmine deaths as civilians return to conflict zones in Sudan

Khartoum, May 4, 2026 - Landmines and unexploded ordnance have killed at least 25 people and injured 52 others in Sudan since the beginning of the year, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), which warned that the real number of casualties is likely much higher.

The victims recorded between January and March included dozens of children, as growing numbers of displaced civilians return to areas heavily affected by fighting, particularly in Khartoum State. Humanitarian agencies estimate that around 1.8 million people have returned to the capital region after fleeing earlier phases of the conflict.

UNMAS said clearance teams have removed thousands of explosive devices and restored millions of square meters of land for civilian use since the war began in April 2023. However, new minefields and unexploded ordnance continue to be discovered, including in central Khartoum and around infrastructure projects linking Omdurman and Khartoum Bahri.

Both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of laying anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines across contested territories during the conflict, contributing to a growing humanitarian threat for returning civilians and aid workers.

Mine-clearing operations have also focused on strategic facilities, including Khartoum International Airport, where hundreds of explosive hazards were removed to allow humanitarian flights to resume earlier this year. Additional clearance efforts have targeted homes, schools, hospitals, and farmland in affected communities.

The European Union recently announced additional funding to support mine-action activities in Sudan, as humanitarian organizations continue surveying hazardous areas and expanding explosive-risk awareness programmes for civilians and relief personnel.