The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed shock and outrage over reports that 460 patients and their companions were killed in an attack on the Saudi Maternity Hospital in Sudan’s El Fasher. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that this tragedy adds to the 285 verified attacks on healthcare facilities across Sudan since the conflict began in April 2023, resulting in at least 1,204 deaths and over 400 injuries. He condemned the ongoing violence and called for the immediate cessation of all attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel, emphasizing the need for protection under international law.
As fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan’s military government intensifies, many civilians have fled to Tawila, approximately 60 kilometres from El Fasher. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), thousands of displaced people have arrived “dehydrated, injured and traumatized.” The agency stressed that humanitarian organizations are providing life-saving aid despite the escalating violence, urging all sides to stop hostilities.
UNICEF warned that children are among the most vulnerable victims in the ongoing conflict. Executive Director Catherine Russell said that an estimated 130,000 children in El Fasher face extreme danger, including abduction, killing, maiming, and sexual violence. The organization called for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, protection of civilians—especially children—and safe passage for families fleeing the violence. Russell emphasized that perpetrators of rights violations must be held accountable.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also condemned the killing of five of its local volunteers in Bara, North Kordofan state. Describing the attack as a “horrific and senseless act,” the ICRC reaffirmed its commitment to continue humanitarian operations across Sudan to safeguard the lives and dignity of affected communities.
Denise Brown, the UN’s head of humanitarian operations in Sudan, noted that the situation in El Fasher remains dire and difficult to verify due to communication blackouts. She stressed that all atrocities must be documented to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible.
