The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned the ongoing attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan, following a devastating drone strike on a hospital in North Darfur that claimed the lives of at least 70 people and injured dozens more.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, called for an immediate halt to the violence, urging all parties to respect international humanitarian law and cease attacks on healthcare workers and institutions. The targeted hospital, the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in El Fasher, was the only functional medical facility in the area, providing vital services such as obstetrics, surgery, pediatrics, and a nutrition stabilization center.
“The Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital is a lifeline for the people of El Fasher. The deliberate targeting of such facilities is deeply alarming,” Tedros wrote on social media after the attack. He emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire and unrestricted access to allow for the repair of the damaged healthcare infrastructure.
The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023, has led to tens of thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, and widespread hunger. The war has also triggered ethnic violence, particularly in Darfur, and has overwhelmed the country’s already fragile healthcare system.
According to Darfur Governor Mini Minnawi, the RSF drone strike hit the emergency department of the hospital, killing patients, including women and children, and severely damaging the facility. The region has seen fierce fighting between the RSF and Sudanese joint forces, comprising the army, armed resistance groups, police, and local defense units.
The WHO has repeatedly called for the protection of healthcare workers and facilities in conflict zones, stressing that medical teams must be allowed to operate without fear of attack. The ongoing violence has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leaving millions without access to essential medical care.