Sudan drone attack on key hospital killed 64 people during Eid, WHO says

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Sudan drone attack on key hospital killed 64 people during Eid, WHO says

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The Sudanese army denied carrying out a deadly attack on Friday evening against a major hospital in a town in the west of the country held by its rivals, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said 64 people – including 13 children, two nurses and a doctor – died in the strike on el-Daein University Hospital and 89 others were injured.

“Enough blood has been spilled,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X, urging the warring parties to end the conflict that began nearly three years ago.

RSF said an army drone struck the hospital in el-Daein, the capital of East Darfur state, on the day Muslims were celebrating the Eid holiday.

Sudan was plunged into civil war in April 2023 when a bitter power struggle erupted between the army and the RSF, who were once allies after coming to power in a 2021 coup.

Since then, more than 150,000 people have died in the conflict and around 12 million have fled their homes, almost a third of the country’s population, in what the United Nations has called the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

Dr Tedros, who said El-Daein University Hospital was no longer able to function after Friday night’s attack, condemned the frequent attacks on medical facilities.

“During nearly three years of conflict, WHO has confirmed that 2,036 people have been killed in 213 attacks on health care, including that on Friday evening,” the WHO chief said in his tweet.

“Now is the time to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers and humanitarians,” he said.

“Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine.”

In a statement, RSF said the strike completely destroyed the top floor of the hospital, caused significant damage to the accident and emergency department and destroyed vital medical equipment.

In response, the military said it was surprised by the accusation that it was behind the attack, adding that it respected “international norms and laws.”

The Emergency Lawyers group called for an independent and transparent investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice.

The local rights group, which has documented atrocities committed by the army and the RSF throughout the war, said el-Daein hospital was a vital health facility relied on by thousands of civilians in the town and surrounding villages.

A group of women wearing colorful headscarves stand, bow their heads and join hands during Eid prayers in Port Sudan. — Low-key rallies took place across Sudan this year to mark Eid and the end of the Muslim fasting month. [AFP via Getty Images]

East Darfur borders the Kordofan region, a new front line in the war where drone strikes are almost daily.

This area constitutes a major corridor linking the western region of Darfur, controlled by the RSF, to the capital, Khartoum, recaptured by the army last year.

There is no end in sight to end the fighting, now considered one of Africa’s deadliest conflicts for civilians – despite U.S.-led peace efforts.

This year, across the country, there were low-key celebrations for Eid-al-Fitr, when Muslims around the world mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.