Death Toll Rises to 70 in Attack on Hospital in Sudan's East Darfur, WHO Reports

The death toll from an attack on a hospital in East Darfur has risen to 70, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Tuesday, calling it an attack on life amid Sudan's devastating war.

According to the WHO, the number of injured in the attack on the teaching hospital in the capital city of East Darfur on Friday has also increased from 89 to 146. The hospital is currently not fully operational.

Hala Khoudari, the WHO's Deputy Head of Mission and Health Emergency Coordinator for Sudan, described the incident as a "horrific attack." She stated that the deceased include seven women, 13 children, one doctor, and two nurses. Among the injured are patients, their family members, and eight health workers.

She added, "The external services and emergency room of the hospital have sustained particularly severe damage." This hospital was previously damaged in another attack in August 2024. Following the latest attack, the hospital is reportedly no longer operational.

The hospital provided services to over 2 million people in various areas of East Darfur. Patients now face the situation of having to travel about 160 kilometers to reach another referral hospital.

Khoudari stated, "The attack on the hospital is not just an attack on a building; it is an attack on people seeking treatment, on health workers risking their lives to save others, and on the possibility of survival in times of crisis."

"Access to health services is decreasing, and efforts to repair damaged structures and equipment are also being affected." According to her, only 5.7 percent of the funding required for Sudan's health response plan for 2026 has been secured so far.

The conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of approximately 11 million people due to fighting between the government army and paramilitary forces.

According to the human rights group 'Lawyers for Emergency,' the army carried out a drone strike on the hospital. The paramilitary forces have influence in the vast Darfur region of western Sudan, while the government army controls the eastern, central, and northern parts of the country.

The government army regularly attacks the city, which is under paramilitary control.