A brutal attack on the only operational hospital in El Fasher, a besieged city in Sudan's Darfur region, has claimed around 70 lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the death toll in a post on X, describing the assault on the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital as "appalling."
The attack, which left 19 others injured, occurred as the hospital was crowded with patients, said Ghebreyesus. He also reported another assault on a health facility in Al Malha. Local officials attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a civil war with Sudan's military.
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The RSF has been blamed for numerous atrocities during the conflict, including a siege on El Fasher since May 2024. Civilians in the city, now home to over one million displaced people, have endured months of violence and deprivation.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in over 28,000 deaths and forced millions to flee their homes. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes, with reports of ethnic African groups being targeted.
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Despite international mediation and sanctions, the fighting continues. WHO and other global organizations have called for an end to violence against healthcare facilities and civilians, emphasizing that Sudan urgently needs peace.