The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the recent drone attack on a hospital in Sudan’s North Darfur region, which killed more than 70 people and wounded many others. The hospital, the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital, was the only functional facility in El Fasher and provided a range of essential medical services.
The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to tens of thousands of deaths, displacement of millions, and widespread hunger. The RSF, accused of ethnically driven violence, has been a major contributor to the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The attack on the hospital in North Darfur is attributed to an RSF drone strike on the emergency department, resulting in the deaths of patients, including women and children. The ongoing clashes between the RSF and the Sudanese joint forces in El Fasher have intensified, involving the army, armed resistance groups, police, and local defense units.
Ghebreyesus urged for an end to attacks on healthcare workers and facilities in Sudan, emphasizing the importance of allowing full access for the quick restoration of damaged facilities. The continued violence in Sudan not only threatens the lives of healthcare workers but also exacerbates the already dire humanitarian situation in the country.
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