A devastating attack on a hospital in Sudan has claimed the lives of 64 individuals and injured 89 others, with 13 of the deceased being children, the World Health Organization confirmed on Saturday. The assault occurred on Friday at El-Daein Teaching Hospital, located in the capital of East Darfur state, a region already grappling with intense violence and instability. This tragic event underscores the severe humanitarian toll the nearly three-year-long conflict continues to exact on civilians and essential services.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep sorrow over the incident, emphasizing that the bloodshed must end. He highlighted that the hospital was directly targeted, resulting in the deaths of two female nurses, one male doctor, and numerous patients. The attack has left the hospital severely damaged and unable to provide critical medical care, particularly affecting its pediatric, maternity, and emergency departments. Such destruction has caused a critical disruption in healthcare services at a time when they are desperately needed.
Further details revealed that eight healthcare workers were among those wounded in the strike. The hospital’s incapacitation has forced the World Health Organization to collaborate closely with local health partners to address urgent gaps in medical care. Efforts are underway to expand capacity at other health facilities, including increasing trauma care capabilities and supplying essential medicines to treat the injured. This support aims to mitigate the immediate impact of the hospital’s closure on the local population.
The attack reportedly involved a drone strike carried out by the Sudanese army, targeting a facility controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF holds sway over much of the Darfur region in western Sudan, while the Sudanese army maintains control over the eastern, central, and northern parts of the country. El-Daein, under RSF control, has been a frequent target of military operations by the Sudanese army, which is attempting to push the paramilitary group back toward its strongholds in Darfur and away from Sudan’s central corridor. Earlier this month, a recent strike on the city’s market ignited oil barrels, causing fires that raged for hours.
In response to the hospital attack, the Sudan Armed Forces issued a statement asserting their adherence to international laws and norms. They accused the RSF of regularly targeting civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, labeling the paramilitary group as a terrorist militia. Meanwhile, the WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) continues to document these violent incidents but refrains from assigning blame, as it functions solely as a monitoring body rather than an investigative agency.
The United Nations humanitarian office in Sudan condemned the strike, describing it as appalling. Hospitals have been repeatedly targeted throughout the ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation. The death toll from attacks on healthcare facilities has now surpassed 2,000 people, with the WHO’s SSA reporting 2,036 fatalities across 213 such incidents. These attacks not only cause immediate loss of life but also have long-lasting effects on communities that depend on continuous access to emergency and routine medical care.
Tedros underscored the gravity of the situation, stating that healthcare should never be a target in any conflict. He called for an urgent de-escalation of hostilities, stressing that peace is the most effective remedy for the suffering endured by civilians. The data collected by the SSA reveals a worrying trend: attacks on healthcare in Sudan are becoming increasingly deadly. In 2023, 64 attacks resulted in 38 deaths; in 2024, 72 attacks caused 200 deaths; and in 2025 alone, 65 attacks have already led to 1,620 deaths, accounting for 82 percent of all reported deaths from healthcare attacks worldwide.
The SSA report on Friday’s strike detailed the use of heavy weaponry, which not only devastated the hospital’s infrastructure but also destroyed vital medical supplies and storage facilities. The frequent drone strikes, particularly in the southern Kordofan region, have become a grim hallmark of Sudan’s brutal conflict, often killing dozens at once. UN human rights chief Volker Turk recently expressed shock after over 200 civilians were reportedly killed by drone attacks within just eight days. He highlighted the increasing use of powerful drones by warring parties to deploy explosive weapons over densely populated areas, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
Across Sudan, the war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 11 million people from their homes. The conflict has fueled what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis, with over 33 million people currently in need of humanitarian assistance. Tedros concluded with a poignant plea, stating that enough blood has been shed and enough suffering inflicted. He called on all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilians, healthcare workers, and humanitarian personnel, and to work towards de-escalating the conflict to prevent further loss of life and destruction.
