Deadly Hospital Attack in Sudan Kills 64

A horrific attack on a hospital in Sudan’s volatile Darfur region has claimed the lives of at least 64 people, including 13 children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The organisation’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed the tragic toll on Saturday, 21 March, via social media.

The assault took place late on Friday at the Al-Dain Teaching Hospital in Al-Dain, the capital of East Darfur. Victims included patients undergoing treatment, as well as two female nurses and one male doctor, effectively crippling the hospital’s emergency services and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Casualties and Injuries Overview

The WHO head described the event as “deeply tragic”, noting that the total number of healthcare personnel and patients killed in attacks on medical facilities across Sudan’s ongoing civil war now exceeds 2,000. Over the course of nearly three years of conflict, the WHO has documented assaults on 213 healthcare facilities, leaving countless civilians without access to critical medical care.

The war, which began in April 2023, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), creating one of the world’s most severe man-made humanitarian crises. More than 12 million people have been displaced, and both sides face serious allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. United Nations experts have highlighted evidence suggesting that RSF operations in Darfur exhibit clear signs of genocidal activity.

At Al-Dain Teaching Hospital, the attack destroyed the children’s ward, maternity unit, and emergency department, rendering the facility entirely inoperative. Eighty-nine people were severely injured, including eight healthcare professionals, further straining already overwhelmed medical services in the region.

Director-General Ghebreyesus called for immediate protection of civilians, medical personnel, and humanitarian workers, emphasising that the assault not only destroyed a critical healthcare facility but also denied thousands of innocent people their minimum chance of survival. He urged the international community to respond decisively to halt such atrocities, declaring:

“Enough blood has been shed, and enough suffering endured. It is time to ensure the safety of those who save lives.”

The attack underscores the devastating impact of Sudan’s ongoing conflict and highlights the urgent need for humanitarian intervention, conflict resolution, and protection of medical infrastructure to prevent further loss of life.