News|Sudan warWHO says attack on Sudan hospital killed 64, including 13 childrenThe attack on a teaching hospital in Al Deain, the capital of East Darfur state, has rendered the facility non-functional.

Incident Report: Attack on Al Deain Teaching Hospital

On Fri, Apr 14, 2023, an attack was carried out on Al Deain Teaching Hospital in the capital of East Darfur state, Sudan. This incident resulted in the deaths of at least 64 individuals, including 13 children. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the casualties, which also included multiple patients, two female nurses, and one male doctor.

The attack additionally caused injuries to 89 people, among whom were eight health staff members. Significant damage was inflicted on the hospital’s pediatric, maternity, and emergency departments, rendering the facility non-operational and eliminating essential medical services in the area.

As a consequence of this event, the total number of fatalities associated with attacks on health facilities during the ongoing conflict in Sudan has exceeded 2,000. Specifically, the WHO has confirmed the deaths of 2,036 individuals across 213 attacks on healthcare facilities since the conflict began between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF commenced in mid-April 2023. This has led to significant violence, contributing to a severe humanitarian crisis, with numerous casualties and over 12 million people displaced from their homes.

Both factions involved in the conflict have faced accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The RSF, in particular, has been connected to acts of violence in Darfur, which United Nations experts have stated resemble the characteristics of genocide. Further details on this assessment can be found here .

The WHO has emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation of the conflict to protect civilians, health workers, and humanitarian personnel from further harm.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.