El-Daein Teaching Hospital Attack: WHO Reports 64 Dead as Sudan Army Denies RSF Involvement

Sudan's army has denied responsibility for a deadly attack on a major hospital on Friday night in el-Daein, a city in the west of the country controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), its rivals in the ongoing conflict.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 64 people—including 13 children, two nurses, and a doctor—were killed in the strike on el-Daein Teaching Hospital, with 89 others wounded.

"Enough blood has been spilled," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X, urging the warring parties to end the conflict that began nearly three years ago.

The RSF claimed that an army drone struck the hospital in el-Daein, the capital of East Darfur state, on the day Muslims were celebrating the festival of Eid.

Sudan descended into civil war in April 2023 after a fierce power struggle erupted between the military and the RSF, who had previously been allies following a 2021 coup.

Since then, more than 150,000 people have died, and about 12 million—nearly a third of Sudan's population—have been displaced, creating what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Dr. Tedros condemned the frequent targeting of medical facilities, stating that el-Daein Teaching Hospital is no longer operational following the attack.

"Over the nearly three-year conflict, WHO has confirmed that 2,036 people have been killed in 213 attacks on health care, including Friday night's strike," the WHO chief said in his tweet.

"The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarians," he added. "Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine."

In a statement, the RSF said the strike completely destroyed the hospital's top floor, caused extensive damage to the accident and emergency department, and destroyed vital medical equipment.

The Sudanese military expressed surprise at the accusations, asserting that it adheres to "international norms and laws."

The Emergency Lawyers group has called for an independent and transparent investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable.

The local rights organization, which has documented atrocities committed by both the army and the RSF throughout the war, emphasized that el-Daein Teaching Hospital is a crucial health facility relied upon by thousands of civilians in the city and surrounding villages.

East Darfur borders the Kordofan region, a new front line in the war marked by near-daily drone strikes. The area serves as a major corridor linking the western Darfur region, controlled by the RSF, to the capital, Khartoum, which was retaken by the army last year.

Despite US-led peace efforts, no end is in sight for the fighting, now considered one of the deadliest conflicts in Africa for civilians.

Across Sudan, celebrations for Eid-al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, were muted this year amid the ongoing conflict.