Micah Jonah
March 22, 2026
World Health Organization officials say an attack on a hospital in Sudan’s Darfur region has killed at least 64 people, including 13 children, in one of the latest deadly incidents targeting healthcare facilities in the country’s ongoing war.
The strike hit Al Deain Teaching Hospital in Al Deain, the capital of East Darfur, on Friday night, leaving the facility severely damaged, no longer operational.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that victims included patients as well as medical staff, with two female nurses and one male doctor among those killed. At least 89 others were injured, including eight healthcare workers.
The attack destroyed critical sections of the hospital, including the paediatric, maternity, and emergency departments, effectively cutting off vital medical services in the area.
According to the WHO, the latest incident brings the total number of deaths linked to attacks on health facilities during Sudan’s conflict to more than 2,000. The agency says it has documented 213 such attacks since the war began, with 2,036 people confirmed killed.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike.
Sudan has been gripped by conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The war has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands killed and more than 12 million people displaced.
Both sides in the conflict have faced accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The RSF, in particular, has been linked by United Nations experts to atrocities in Darfur that may amount to genocide.
Calling for urgent action, Tedros said the continued targeting of civilians and healthcare infrastructure must end, urging all parties to de-escalate and ensure the protection of medical workers and humanitarian personnel.
