The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for an immediate and unconditional end to attacks on health facilities and medical personnel in Sudan, following reports of a devastating assault on the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher.
According to WHO, the attack resulted in multiple casualties among patients and their companions, highlighting the growing dangers faced by health workers amid the country’s escalating conflict.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the incident as “appalling and deeply shocking,” warning that such attacks constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law. “All attacks on health care must stop immediately and unconditionally,” he said.
Since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, WHO has verified at least 185 attacks on health facilities, leading to 1,204 deaths and 416 injuries among health workers and patients. Alarmingly, 49 of these attacks have occurred in 2025 alone, claiming nearly 1,000 lives.
The Sudan Doctors Union has also condemned the ongoing violence, describing the situation in El Fasher as dire and warning of worsening conditions for civilians and medical staff.
The security crisis intensified after Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced the withdrawal of government troops from their last stronghold in Darfur, paving the way for paramilitary forces to seize control of the main army base.
According to the United Nations, more than 12 million people have been displaced since the conflict began, creating one of the world’s largest internal displacement crises. Most of those displaced are women and children, who face hunger, disease, and severe protection risks.
WHO and humanitarian agencies are urging all parties to respect international law, protect health workers, and allow unrestricted access to humanitarian aid to prevent further loss of life.
