The recent escalation of violence in Sudan underscores the alarming toll that armed conflict takes on civilians, particularly in the health sector. Following a devastating drone strike on Al Jabalain Hospital, which claimed the lives of ten individuals including healthcare professionals, the humanitarian crisis in the region deepens. As the international community grapples with responsibility for this ongoing turmoil, the voices calling for accountability and protection of humanitarian efforts grow louder.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has condemned a drone attack on Al Jabalain Hospital in White Nile State, Sudan, which tragically resulted in the deaths of ten people. The assault, which occurred on Thursday, targeted critical areas of the facility, including an operating theatre and a maternity ward. According to MSF, the attack was reportedly associated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Esperanza Santos, MSF’s head of emergencies for Sudan, expressed the profound impact of this assault, noting that it resulted in the loss of seven medical staff members, many of whom had worked with MSF in the past. Santos emphasized that the attack was particularly egregious as it coincided with a children’s immunization campaign, affecting the most vulnerable members of the community. “Our thoughts go to the families of the deceased, including our former colleagues,” she stated in a somber acknowledgment of the loss of life.
This incident is part of a disturbing trend of violence against healthcare facilities amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan between the army and the RSF, which began in April 2023. Just hours after the Al Jabalain Hospital strike, a medical supply depot in Rabak, the capital of White Nile province, also came under attack.
Emergency Lawyers, a local rights group, highlighted the “recurring pattern” of drone strikes by combatant factions that have emerged since March, particularly affecting the provinces of South Kordofan, Blue Nile, East and Central Darfur. The World Health Organization reported over 200 attacks on healthcare facilities since the onset of the war, with tragic civilian casualties, including at least 13 children killed last month in a separate hospital strike in Darfur.
Khalid Aleisir, Sudan’s minister of culture, information, antiquities, and tourism, condemned the attack and called for the international community to designate the RSF as a terrorist organization, stressing the need for accountability. He pointed out that regional backers supplying weaponry and logistical support have contributed significantly to the ongoing violence.
The Sudan Doctors Network, which monitors violence in the region, branded the drone strike a “deliberate assault on health facilities and unarmed civilians,” further exacerbating an already critical health crisis in Sudan. As the situation unfolds, the call for international intervention and support for humanitarian efforts becomes increasingly urgent, highlighting the urgent need for stability and protection for civilian life.
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