The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday reported a devastating attack on the Al Deain Teaching Hospital in Sudan, which left scores of people and medical staff dead and injured.
The March 20 attack killed over 64 people, including 13 children, nurses, a doctor and patients. In addition, 89 people were injured and the hospital’s pediatric, maternity and emergency departments sustained significant damage, rendering the facility inoperable. To fill the gap caused by the disruption of hospital operations, WHO announced that it would increase capacity to treat patients and the injured at other health facilities in the country.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sentenced the attack and called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict in Sudan. He noted that the incident brought the death toll from attacks on health facilities to over 2,000, with 2,013 attacks on hospitals recorded in nearly three years conflict. Importantly, Ghebreyesus emphasized that attacks on health facilities not only result in the death of people, but also have long-term consequences for the community destroy As a result of the ongoing armed conflict, they are deprived of critical infrastructure and excluded from vital emergency and routine medical services.
International humanitarian law prohibits Attacks on health facilities and medical personnel in times of armed conflict. Protection extends to the wounded and patients as well as the equipment and transport of medical personnel.
The armed conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has resulted in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, characterized by mass displacement, food insecurity, collapse of the health system and human rights violations amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The UN Secretary-General has previously called for a ceasefire and urged the warring parties to protect Sudanese civilians and prioritize compromise. However, the conflict is now in its third year and escalating violence is worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.
On February 10, the UN human rights chief called on the international community to take urgent action to de-escalate violence in Sudan, saying an extension of the arms embargo was necessary to stem the flow of weapons into the country.
