A hospital in war-torn Sudan has reportedly been attacked, killing at least 64 people and marking the latest in a series of assaults on health facilities. Late Friday, the Al Deain Teaching Hospital in Al Deain, the capital of East Darfur State, was struck, leaving scores of civilians dead, including 13 children, two nurses, a doctor, and multiple patients. The latest attack also injured 89 people, including eight health care workers.
On Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the incident and expressed grave concern over the escalating violence against health care facilities.
“Enough blood has been spilled. Enough suffering has been inflicted. The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarians,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine.”
The attack on Al Deain Teaching Hospital not only resulted in a massive loss of life, but also caused extensive damage to the hospital's pediatric, maternity, and emergency departments. This rendered the facility incapable of functioning.
This critical interruption of essential medical services leaves communities in desperate need of emergency and routine care at a time when they are already under immense pressure.
Over the course of the nearly three-year war, WHO has verified 213 attacks on health care facilities, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,036 people and the injury of over 720 others. Beyond the devastating human toll, these attacks have far-reaching consequences for communities that are already struggling to access essential medical services.
Amidst the violence and chaos, WHO is working closely with local partner organizations to fill the gaps created by the attack. These efforts include strengthening primary health care services, increasing the capacity to treat the injured, and deploying trauma care supplies and essential medicines.
Drone strikes drive rising civilian casualties across Kordofan and Darfur regions
Civilians continue to pay the price as drone attacks and ground fighting escalate in several parts of Sudan. Several people were reportedly killed on Tuesday in Bara, northeast of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State.
Fighting also continued around the town of Tina, located on the border with Chad in the Darfur region. On Wednesday, the Chadian government reported that 17 people were killed when a drone struck Tina, on the Chadian side of the border, which underscores the growing regional risks as the war in Sudan continues.
Earlier this week, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) again sounded the alarm about relentless drone strikes in the Kordofan and Darfur regions, which are causing continued civilian casualties and further restricting humanitarian access.
Last week, drone strikes in several parts of Darfur also caused several casualties and significant property damage.
According to reports, two people were killed in a drone strike in Al Rahad, a town southeast of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State. A hospital was also destroyed. There were additional csualties when drone strikes hit Al Fula, the capital of West Kordofan State.
Strikes in the Wadi Sira area, west of El Fasher, reportedly caused multiple casualties. In Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, drone strikes reportedly caused casualties and extensive damage to several neighborhoods.
A strike on a market in Akidong, West Darfur, near the critical Adré border crossing, triggered a massive explosion. Médecins Sans Frontières reported that 23 injured civilians, including four women and seven children, were admitted to a hospital supported by the humanitarian organization in Adré, on the Chadian side of the border.
Despite growing risks, humanitarians continue to deliver aid
Aid agencies continue to respond to the needs of the Sudanese population, delivering essential supplies and services wherever possible. However, they are facing significant funding shortages.
Last week, Save the Children delivered 30 metric tons of medicine and nutritional supplies to Tawila in North Darfur State. These supplies are expected to support over 80,000 children and 57,000 adults, enabling 20 health facilities and mobile clinics to serve displaced communities for six months.
Humanitarian organizations are calling for more funding, as well as rapid, safe, unhindered, and sustained access to scale up assistance. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requires $2.9 billion to reach over 20 million people across Sudan but is only about 16 percent funded, having received $454 million thus far.
Large numbers of Sudanese refugees remain in neighboring countries in need of support. The Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) requires an additional $1.6 billion this year to support refugees and host communities in neighboring countries. To date, nearly 5 million people have fled to neighboring countries due to the ongoing war or earlier conflict.
The scale of the humanitarian catastrophe underway in Sudan is unprecedented. In 2026, an estimated 33.7 million people — nearly two-thirds of Sudan's population — are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. Among those in dire need are over 20 million children.
On April 15, 2023, fighting broke out between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. This has resulted in the world's largest humanitarian emergency, with widespread displacement and hunger.
More than 14 million people remain displaced
Despite the return of 3.8 million people to their communities since last year, more than 14 million remain displaced due to the ongoing war. Sudan still ranks as the country with the world's largest displacement crisis.
While the overall number of displaced people in Sudan has fallen, it is estimated that close to 9 million people remain displaced within Sudan’s borders, with continued returns to Khartoum and the eastern states.
However, those who return face significant challenges as they rebuild their lives and livelihoods, often in areas severely damaged during earlier phases of the war where basic services are lacking.
Sudan is also experiencing an unprecedented hunger crisis. Nearly three years into the war, the country continues to slide into famine, which is characterized by widespread hunger and a significant surge in acute malnutrition. Sudan is the only country in the world where famine has been confirmed in multiple areas and continues to spread.
According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, over 19 million people in Sudan are currently experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or worse).
The rapid deterioration of food security has left approximately 146,000 people in catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5). It is estimated that more than 4.9 million people are experiencing emergency levels of hunger (IPC Phase 4).