UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned a deadly drone strike on a hospital in Sudan, describing the attack as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The March 20 strike on El-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur killed at least 70 people, including children and medical staff, according to officials.
In a statement delivered by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Guterres called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, which protects civilians, healthcare workers and medical facilities during armed conflict.
The United Nations warned that attacks on hospitals are worsening an already devastating war marked by collapsing public services and mass civilian displacement across Sudan.
The World Health Organization has verified more than 200 attacks on health facilities since April 2023, resulting in over 2,000 deaths nationwide.
Guterres urged an immediate de-escalation, calling on the warring sides to stop fighting and agree to a ceasefire without delay.
He also renewed calls for engagement with international mediation efforts, including initiatives led by his personal envoy, aimed at restarting negotiations and securing a lasting truce.
The UN said it remains ready to support credible political efforts that could steer Sudan away from violence and toward long-term peace and stability.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Dujarric described peace in Sudan as “very elusive” and warned that the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.
He said the growing use of drone warfare is increasingly targeting civilians and infrastructure, turning modern technology into a tool that amplifies destruction in already vulnerable communities.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, about 500 civilians were killed in drone strikes between January and mid-March, highlighting the escalating brutality of the conflict.
Dujarric stressed that international humanitarian law must be applied universally and prohibits attacks against civilians, civilian infrastructure and indiscriminate military operations.
He also called on all parties to allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, warning that delays in aid delivery risk deepening famine, displacement and preventable deaths.
