At Least 64 Dead as Airstrike Hits Key Hospital in Sudan’s Darfur Region
Attack kills children, medical staff, and patients, crippling key hospital in East Darfur
- At least 64 people, including children and medical staff, were killed when El-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur was hit by an airstrike
- The strike destroyed critical hospital departments, leaving the facility non-functional
- The SAF-RSF war has displaced millions and caused severe civilian suffering
At least 64 people were killed and 89 others injured after a strike hit El-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed, with Arabic sources and local monitors attributing the attack to Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) operations.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Friday strike claimed the lives of 13 children, two female nurses, one doctor, and multiple patients, describing it as part of a growing pattern of deadly attacks on healthcare amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
The hospital, a key medical facility in the RSF-controlled city of El-Daein, was rendered non-functional after sustaining severe damage to its maternity, paediatric, and emergency departments.
“Enough blood has been spilled,” Tedros said. “Health care should never be a target.”
Arabic Reports Point to SAF Responsibility
Sudanese outlets, including Darfur24, reported that SAF warplanes carried out the strike, firing missiles directly at the hospital during air raids on the city. Medics cited by regional media said aircraft circled over El-Daein before launching the attack, which struck the hospital compound and caused mass casualties among patients and staff.
The Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers also attributed the strike to an SAF drone attack, reinforcing reports pointing to SAF responsibility. The WHO, while confirming the human toll and destruction, does not assign blame.
The SAF denied targeting civilian infrastructure, stating it adheres to international law and accusing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of using civilian sites for military purposes.
Healthcare System Under Collapse
The United Nations condemned the strike, warning that attacks on hospitals have become a defining feature of the conflict. WHO data shows more than 2,000 people have died in over 200 verified attacks on healthcare facilities since the war began in April 2023.
The scale of violence has escalated sharply, with 2025 alone accounting for the majority of global deaths linked to attacks on healthcare. “Beyond the devastating human toll, these attacks are dismantling already fragile health systems,” Tedros said.
WHO teams are working with local partners to redirect patients, scale up services at other facilities, and deploy trauma supplies and essential medicines.
Escalating Drone Warfare
The hospital strike comes amid a surge in drone and air attacks across Sudan, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan, where civilians increasingly bear the brunt of the fighting. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk recently reported that over 200 civilians were killed in drone strikes within an eight-day period earlier this month, highlighting the intensifying use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
War with No End in Sight
The conflict between SAF and RSF has killed tens of thousands, displaced more than 11 million people, and pushed over 33 million into urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Tedros renewed calls for de-escalation and civilian protection. “The time has come to ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarian personnel,” he said. “Peace is the best medicine.”
