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Attack on el-Daein hospital leaves 64 dead, WHO says
Sudan's military has rejected claims it carried out a deadly strike on a hospital in East Darfur, where the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 64 fatalities, including 13 children and three medical staff. The attack occurred on Friday night as Muslims observed Eid al-Fitr.
WHO condemns targeting of medical facilities
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that el-Daein Teaching Hospital, the target of the strike, is now non-operational. He condemned the repeated attacks on healthcare infrastructure, noting that 2,036 people have died in 213 such incidents since the conflict began nearly three years ago.
"Enough blood has been spilled. The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarians. Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine."
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
RSF and military trade accusations
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused the army of deploying a drone to strike the hospital, destroying its top floor, emergency department, and critical medical equipment. The military, however, denied responsibility, asserting it adheres to "international norms and laws."
Calls for investigation and accountability
The Emergency Lawyers group, a local rights organization, has demanded an independent probe into the attack, emphasizing the hospital's role as a lifeline for thousands in el-Daein and surrounding areas. The group has documented atrocities by both warring factions throughout the conflict.
Conflict escalates amid humanitarian crisis
The war, which erupted in April 2023 between the military and the RSF-former allies who seized power in a 2021 coup-has killed over 150,000 people and displaced nearly 12 million, according to the United Nations. The UN describes it as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
East Darfur, where the attack occurred, borders the Kordofan region, a new front line in the war marked by near-daily drone strikes. The area serves as a critical corridor linking RSF-controlled western Darfur to the capital, Khartoum, which the army reclaimed last year.
No end in sight despite peace efforts
Despite U.S.-led mediation attempts, the fighting shows no signs of abating. Eid al-Fitr celebrations across Sudan were subdued this year, reflecting the grim toll of the conflict, now one of Africa's deadliest for civilians.
