Sudan Hospital Attack: Death Toll Rises Amidst Ongoing Conflict
Sudan’s army has vehemently denied responsibility for a deadly strike on a major hospital Friday night in El-Daein, a city in the west of the country currently held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The attack on el-Daein Teaching Hospital has resulted in a staggering loss of life, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting 64 fatalities, including 13 children, two nurses, and a doctor. An additional 89 individuals sustained injuries.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his outrage on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Enough blood has been spilled.” He urgently appealed to the warring parties to cease hostilities, a conflict that has raged for nearly three years. The RSF alleges that an army drone targeted the hospital in El-Daein, coinciding with the Muslim celebration of Eid.
A Nation Plunged into Civil War
Sudan descended into a brutal civil war in April 2023, triggered by a power struggle between the military and the RSF, former allies who seized power in a 2021 coup. The conflict has had a catastrophic impact, resulting in over 150,000 deaths and displacing approximately 12 million people – nearly a third of the country’s population. The United Nations has declared this the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Dr. Tedros highlighted the critical state of el-Daein Teaching Hospital, stating it is no longer operational following the attack. He condemned the frequent targeting of medical facilities, revealing that WHO has documented 2,036 deaths in 213 attacks on healthcare facilities throughout the nearly three-year conflict, including Friday night’s devastating strike. He emphasized, “Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine.”
Conflicting Accounts and Calls for Investigation
The RSF claims the strike completely destroyed the hospital’s top floor, severely damaged the accident and emergency department, and destroyed essential medical equipment. The military, however, expressed surprise at the accusation, asserting its adherence to “international norms and laws.”
The Emergency Lawyers group has demanded an independent and transparent investigation, calling for accountability for those responsible. The local rights organization, which has documented atrocities committed by both sides throughout the war, emphasized the vital role the hospital played in providing healthcare to thousands of civilians in El-Daein and surrounding villages.
Escalating Conflict and Regional Implications
East Darfur, bordering the Kordofan region, has become a new front line in the war, experiencing near-daily drone strikes. This area serves as a crucial corridor connecting the RSF-controlled western Darfur region to the capital, Khartoum, which the army recaptured last year.
Despite US-led peace efforts, no end to the fighting appears imminent. The conflict is now considered one of the deadliest in Africa for civilians. Celebrations for Eid-al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, were subdued across the country.
Further Reading: For more news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com.
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