Sudan’s military has denied responsibility for a deadly strike on a major hospital in western Sudan, as conflicting accounts emerge over the incident.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said at least 64 people—including 13 children, two nurses, and a doctor—were killed in Friday night’s attack on El Daein Teaching Hospital, with 89 others injured.
“Enough blood has been spilled,” Dr Tedros wrote on X, calling on both sides to end the conflict, which began nearly three years ago.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused the army of carrying out the strike using a drone, targeting the hospital in El Daein, the capital of East Darfur, on the day Muslims were marking Eid.
However, the military rejected the allegation, saying it was surprised by the claims and insisting it operates in line with international laws and norms.
Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023, when tensions between the army and the RSF—former allies who jointly seized power in a 2021 coup—escalated into open conflict. Since then, more than 150,000 people have been killed and around 12 million displaced, nearly a third of the country’s population, in what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Dr Tedros said the hospital is no longer functional following the attack and condemned the repeated targeting of health facilities. He noted that the WHO has verified 213 attacks on healthcare since the war began, resulting in over 2,000 deaths.
“The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarian personnel,” he said. “Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine.”
In its account, the RSF said the strike destroyed the hospital’s top floor, severely damaged the emergency department, and wiped out critical medical equipment.
Meanwhile, the Emergency Lawyers group has called for an independent and transparent investigation to establish responsibility and ensure accountability. The organisation noted that the hospital serves as a crucial lifeline for thousands of civilians in El Daein and nearby communities, and warned that its destruction will further deepen the humanitarian crisis.
East Darfur, which borders the Kordofan region, has become a new frontline in the conflict, with near-daily drone strikes reported in the area.
The region serves as a key corridor linking western Darfur—largely under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—to the capital, Khartoum, which was retaken by the army last year.
Despite ongoing US-led peace efforts, there is little indication that the fighting will ease anytime soon. The conflict is now regarded as one of the deadliest in Africa for civilians.
Across Sudan, this year’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations were subdued, as the ongoing violence continues to cast a shadow over what is usually a joyous occasion marking the end of Ramadan.