Over 40 Killed in Sudan Hospital Strike as Conflict Intensifies: WHO Chief

Khartoum – More than 40 people, including children and healthcare workers, were killed over the weekend in a deadly strike on Al Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan, Sudan, according to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The hospital, located near the front line between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), was severely damaged in the attack. Fighting between the two factions has raged since the civil conflict erupted in April 2023.

Dr. Tedros condemned the violence and called for an immediate end to attacks on medical infrastructure, but did not assign blame.

The WHO Sudan office confirmed that six children and five medical staff were among the dead, with dozens more injured and the hospital left in ruins.

A human rights group, Emergency Lawyers, accused the Sudanese army of launching a drone strike on the facility on Saturday and initially reported a lower death toll of nine. Neither the Sudanese army nor the RSF has commented on the incident so far.

The strike is the latest in a series of escalating attacks that have spread beyond traditional battle zones. In recent days, multiple explosions and fires have been reported in Port Sudan, a previously stable Red Sea city that had served as a key refuge for displaced civilians.

According to reports, RSF drone strikes targeted fuel depots and a military base near the international airport, prompting widespread concern over the safety of humanitarian operations in the region. The port city had remained relatively unaffected until now.

The United Nations and several neighboring countries have condemned the attacks and urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and safeguard civilian infrastructure.

In a related development, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 5 dismissed a case brought by Sudan accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of fueling genocide in Darfur by supplying arms to paramilitary groups. The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction and struck the case from its docket.

The UAE welcomed the decision, calling it a clear legal victory and stating that Sudan’s accusations were baseless.

Sudan’s civil war has created a dire humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 12 million people and pushing many into food insecurity and poverty as the conflict stretches into its second year.