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A deadly strike on a hospital in Sudan’s East Darfur state has killed at least 64 people and left 89 others injured, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), marking one of the most severe attacks on healthcare facilities in the country’s ongoing conflict.
The attack, which occurred on Friday, hit the El-Daein Teaching Hospital in the regional capital. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that the victims included 13 children, two female nurses, one male doctor, and several patients receiving treatment at the time.
“The hospital was struck, killing at least 64 people,” he said, underscoring the scale of the tragedy.
Tedros described the aftermath as catastrophic, noting that key departments, including paediatric, maternity, and emergency units, were severely damaged. The hospital has since become non-functional, leading to what he called a “critical interruption of essential medical services.” Eight health workers were also among the injured.
Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers alleged that the strike was carried out by an army drone, highlighting the increasing reliance on aerial attacks in the conflict. The war, which began in April 2023, has split control of the country between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, with the Darfur region remaining a major battleground.
The United Nations humanitarian office expressed shock over the incident, describing it as part of a troubling pattern. Hospitals have repeatedly come under attack during the conflict, with WHO data showing more than 2,000 people killed in over 200 such incidents.
“Beyond the devastating human toll, attacks on health care have immediate and long-term consequences,” Tedros said, stressing that already fragile communities are being pushed further into crisis. Sudan is currently facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies, with over 11 million people displaced and more than 33 million in need of aid.
Calling for an end to the violence, Tedros stated: “Enough blood has been spilled. Enough suffering has been inflicted.” He added that protecting civilians and healthcare infrastructure must become an urgent priority, insisting that “health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine.”
