In brief
The Sudanese army has denied conducting an attack on el-Daein Teaching Hospital, which resulted in 64 fatalities, including children and medical staff. The assault happened during the Eid celebrations and has generated condemnation from health officials and human rights advocates, highlighting the dire situation created by the ongoing conflict between the military and the paramilitary RSF. The WHO has documented over 2,000 casualties from attacks on healthcare facilities, emphasizing the growing humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Sudan's army has denied it carried out a deadly attack on a major hospital on Friday night in a city in the west of the country held by its rivals, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that 64 people - including 13 children, two nurses, and a doctor - died in the strike on el-Daein Teaching Hospital, with 89 others reported wounded.Enough blood has been spilled, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, expressed on social media, urging the warring factions to end the conflict that has persisted for nearly three years.The RSF claimed that an army drone struck the hospital in el-Daein, the capital of East Darfur state, coinciding with the Eid celebration. In contrast, the military was taken aback by the accusation, asserting it follows international laws and norms.Dr. Tedros condemned the frequent targeting of medical facilities, noting the WHO has confirmed 2,036 deaths from over 213 attacks on healthcare during this conflict. The attack on the el-Daein hospital has rendered it non-operational, depriving thousands of vital medical services.The Emergency Lawyers group has called for an independent investigation into the incident, demanding accountability for those responsible.The civil war in Sudan began in April 2023, leading to widespread displacement and thousands of casualties, with the UN labeling it the world's largest humanitarian crisis. The conflict, marked by increasing violence and instability, has affected millions, with Eid celebrations muted across the country this year.
