Attack on Saudi Hospital in Sudan’s North Darfur Kills Children Amid Ongoing Conflict.
PORT SUDAN:
In a tragic escalation of violence in Sudan’s conflict zones, at least one girl and three boys were killed, and three other boys were injured in an attack on the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur, on Friday. The children were patients in the hospital’s emergency ward, receiving treatment for injuries sustained in previous bombings in the area.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell condemned the assault, emphasizing that it represents a gross violation of children’s rights. “This heinous attack is a blatant violation of children’s rights. Children are being killed and injured in the very places where they should be safest from harm,” she said. Russell stressed that such attacks worsen the already dire conditions for children and families trapped in conflict zones, where insecurity and a lack of protection continue to endanger lives.
The attack comes amid a rapidly deteriorating health infrastructure in Sudan. More than 70 percent of hospitals in conflict-affected regions are either non-operational or severely compromised, facing destruction, lack of medical supplies, and being repurposed for other uses such as shelters. This has made it increasingly difficult to provide essential medical services, including vaccines and routine immunization, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, especially for children.
International Humanitarian Law protects hospitals from being targeted in conflict, yet these institutions continue to be vulnerable to attacks. Hospitals provide vital care for civilians, and the destruction of these facilities severely undermines efforts to save lives. Russell reiterated that all parties in the conflict must ensure the protection of civilians and medical infrastructure to prevent further loss of life.
“Continued attacks on health facilities endanger children’s lives and restrict their access to lifesaving medical care, which can have immediate and long-term impacts on their health,” Russell added. “The violence must end now. Children in Sudan cannot wait any longer.”
The UN has documented over 90 attacks on schools and hospitals in Sudan throughout 2024, further highlighting the severe toll the ongoing conflict is taking on the country’s civilian population, especially vulnerable children.
