An attack on Al Mujlad Hospital in Sudan’s West Kordofan state killed over 40 people, including six children and five healthcare workers, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Tuesday. The strike occurred Saturday near front lines between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have fought since April 2023. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the assault "appalling," demanding an end to attacks on medical facilities.
The RSF accused the SAF of launching the attack via drone—a claim supported by civil society groups like Emergency Lawyers and the Sudan Doctors Network. The SAF denied responsibility, asserting it only targets "militia gatherings". The hospital, the only functioning health facility in the region, sustained extensive damage, crippling dialysis services for civilians.
This incident underscores Sudan’s descent into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The conflict has displaced 12 million people, left 25 million acutely food insecure, and triggered famine in 10 areas—including Zamzam camp, where 400,000 face starvation. UNICEF reports 3.2 million children risk acute malnutrition, while maternal deaths soar amid the collapse of 80% of hospitals in conflict zones.
The UN, WHO, and humanitarian groups uniformly condemned the hospital attack, emphasizing violations of international law. Despite urgent calls, Sudan’s 2024 humanitarian response plan faces a $1.6 billion funding gap, hindering aid delivery. Blockades at critical crossings like Adré have worsened famine conditions, with only 59 aid trucks reaching Darfur in late August.
The attack follows the International Court of Justice’s May dismissal of Sudan’s genocide case against the UAE, which allegedly supplied arms to the RSF. The court cited jurisdictional limits, though violence in Darfur continues to reflect ethnic targeting.