Darfur: A deadly attack on Al Deain Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has left multiple patients and healthcare workers dead, further intensifying concerns over the escalating humanitarian crisis in the country.
The incident occurred on Friday night in Al Deain, the capital of East Darfur state.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the victims included several patients, two female nurses, and one male doctor. In addition to the fatalities, at least 89 people were injured in the attack, including eight members of the hospital staff.
The assault caused severe damage to critical hospital departments, including paediatric, maternity, and emergency units. As a result, the facility has been rendered completely non-functional, cutting off essential medical services for residents of the city.
WHO officials stated that the latest incident adds to a growing pattern of violence targeting healthcare infrastructure in Sudan. Tedros revealed that the total number of deaths linked to attacks on health facilities since the start of the conflict has now surpassed 2,000.
Specifically, the WHO has verified 2,036 deaths resulting from 213 separate attacks on healthcare facilities during the ongoing war.There has been no immediate confirmation regarding the perpetrators behind the attack.
However, the broader conflict in Sudan continues to involve fierce fighting between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The war, which erupted in April 2023, has triggered one of the fastest-growing man-made humanitarian crises in the world. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, while more than 12 million have been displaced from their homes, according to international estimates.
Both sides in the conflict have faced serious allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The RSF, in particular, has been accused by United Nations experts of carrying out atrocities in Darfur that bear the hallmarks of genocide.
In a strong appeal, Tedros urged an immediate end to the violence, stressing the urgent need to protect civilians and healthcare workers. “Enough blood has been spilled.
Enough suffering has been inflicted,” he said, calling for de-escalation and humanitarian protection measures across Sudan.
The attack underscores the devastating toll the conflict continues to take on civilian life and critical infrastructure, with healthcare systems increasingly caught in the crossfire.