Sudan: 70 people killed in attack on hospital in Darfur region, WHO claims
At least 70 people were killed in a drone attack on the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in El Fasher, the only operational hospital in the besieged city of North Darfur, Sudan. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the casualty figures on January 26, 2025, stating that the hospital was crowded with patients at the time of the assault, which also left 19 others injured.
Local officials have attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in ongoing conflicts against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). This incident is part of a broader escalation of violence in Sudan’s civil war, which has been ongoing since April 2023, and has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. The RSF has reportedly intensified its military actions following recent battlefield losses against the SAF.
The WHO chief emphasized the dire situation for civilians, urging all parties to cease hostilities and protect healthcare facilities. He noted that access to medical care is severely limited due to ongoing violence and previous attacks on health infrastructure in the region.
This attack has drawn international condemnation, with calls for accountability and adherence to humanitarian laws to protect civilians and medical personnel amidst the conflict
