A drone strike by General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) on a hospital in Sudan’s East Darfur, which killed at least 64 people, is being cited by international and local groups as part of a growing pattern of attacks on healthcare facilities in the country’s war.
The strike targeted Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in a city controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killing children, medical staff and patients, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the attack as “bloodshed,” confirming that 13 children, two nurses and a doctor were among the dead, and calling for immediate protection of civilians and healthcare workers.
A Sudanese legal monitoring group said the strike was carried out by SAF drones, while WHO data indicated the use of heavy weapons that also damaged critical medical supplies.
The TASIS (Sudan Founding Alliance) described the attack as a war crime, warning that repeated strikes on civilian infrastructure in RSF-held areas point to a systematic pattern requiring international investigation.
The RSF accused General al-Burhan’s army of deliberately targeting civilian sites, while the army denied responsibility and said it adheres to international law, instead blaming the RSF for attacks on public facilities.
The attack comes amid a steady rise in assaults on healthcare facilities since the war began in April 2023. According to WHO monitoring data, at least 2,036 people have been killed in more than 200 attacks on medical sites across Sudan.
Aid agencies say the destruction of hospitals is worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with over 33 million people in need of assistance nationwide.
“Healthcare must never be a target,” Tedros said. “Peace is the best medicine.”
