WHO Calls for End to Attacks on Health Care in Sudan After Deadly Drone Strike Leaves 70 Dead

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urgently called for an end to attacks on health care facilities in Sudan following a devastating drone strike on a hospital in North Darfur that killed over 70 people and injured dozens more, Arab News reported.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for protection of health care workers and facilities, stating, “We continue to call for a cessation of all attacks on health care in Sudan.”

The targeted facility, the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in El Fasher, is the only operational hospital in the area, providing essential services such as gynecology, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and nutrition stabilization. The attack occurred amid ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023 due to disputes over military integration.

The brutal conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, plunging half of Sudan’s population into hunger. Humanitarian crises have intensified, with ethnic violence predominantly attributed to the RSF. Local officials reported that the drone strike specifically targeted the hospital’s emergency department, leading to casualties among patients, including women and children.

The WHO continues to advocate for immediate access to restore damaged facilities and ensure the safety of health care in the region.