An attack on the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, the only functioning medical facility in the besieged city, claimed the lives of 70 people and left 19 others injured. The assault, reportedly carried out by a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drone, has drawn widespread condemnation, with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirming the devastating casualty figures on Sunday.

“The appalling attack on Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, led to 19 injuries and 70 deaths among patients and companions,” Dr. Tedros announced in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “At the time of the attack, the hospital was packed with patients receiving care.” His statement marked the first confirmation of casualty numbers by an international authority, underlining the gravity of the incident.

Local officials in North Darfur’s capital had reported similar numbers a day earlier. Darfur Governor Mini Minnawi also took to X to provide grim details, stating that an RSF drone struck the hospital’s emergency department, killing patients, including women and children.

The conflict has exacerbated ethnic tensions in the region, with the RSF widely blamed for waves of ethnically driven violence. In El Fasher, the fighting has intensified as RSF forces clash with Sudanese joint forces, including the army, armed resistance groups, police, and local defense units.

Global Condemnation and Calls for Action

The attack on the hospital has shocked the international community, highlighting the disregard for civilian life and humanitarian norms. Hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law, and attacks on such facilities are considered war crimes. Dr. Tedros and other global leaders have called for accountability and a cessation of hostilities to prevent further atrocities.