A devastating attack on a hospital in Sudan’s Darfur region has killed at least 64 people, including children and healthcare workers, further deepening one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The strike targeted Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur’s capital on Friday night, leaving at least 64 people dead, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Among the victims were 13 children, multiple patients, two female nurses, and one male doctor, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed.
Another 89 people were injured in the attack, including eight healthcare staff.
The attack caused severe damage to key departments, including paediatric, maternity, and emergency units. As a result, the hospital has been rendered completely nonfunctional, cutting off critical medical services for residents of al-Daein.
WHO warned that the destruction has both immediate and long-term consequences for communities already struggling to access healthcare.
Death toll from attacks on healthcare surpasses 2,000
Following the latest strike, total fatalities linked to attacks on health facilities during Sudan’s war have now exceeded 2,000.
WHO data shows that over the nearly three-year conflict, 2,036 people have been killed and more than 720 injured in 213 verified attacks on healthcare facilities.
The agency stressed that such attacks are becoming increasingly deadly each year.
WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) reported a sharp rise in fatalities over time. In 2023, 64 attacks resulted in 38 deaths. In 2024, 72 attacks caused 200 deaths.
By 2025, 65 attacks led to 1,620 deaths — accounting for 82% of all reported global deaths from attacks on healthcare.
Army drone strike suspected
Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers said the hospital was hit by an army drone strike. WHO confirmed the attack involved “violence with heavy weapons,” affecting not only the hospital and its staff but also medical supplies and storage.
However, the WHO does not assign blame, as it is not an investigative body.
The conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in mid-April 2023. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been killed, more than 12 million displaced, and over 33 million people now require humanitarian assistance.
The RSF controls much of the Darfur region, while the army holds the east, north, and central areas.
Both sides have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The RSF, in particular, has been linked to atrocities in Darfur that UN experts say bear the hallmarks of genocide.
RSF-controlled al-Daein has frequently come under attack by the army, which is attempting to push paramilitary forces back toward their strongholds.
Earlier this month, an army strike on al-Daein’s market ignited oil barrels that burned for hours, underscoring the intensity of the conflict. The latest hospital attack marks one of the deadliest incidents targeting healthcare facilities in the war.
WHO calls for urgent de-escalation
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for an immediate end to violence, stressing that healthcare must never be targeted.
“Enough blood has been spilled. Enough suffering has been inflicted,” he said.
He urged all parties to de-escalate the conflict and ensure protection for civilians, health workers, and humanitarian personnel, adding that “peace is the best medicine.”
