The World Health Organization has condemned a deadly attack on Al-Mujlad Hospital in Sudan that resulted in over 40 fatalities, including many children and healthcare workers, amid the escalating humanitarian crisis caused by the civil war.
Tragic Hospital Attack in Sudan Claims Lives of Children and Medics
Tragic Hospital Attack in Sudan Claims Lives of Children and Medics
WHO officials condemn recent hospital attack, stressing the urgent need for protection of health facilities amidst ongoing conflict.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned a recent attack on a hospital in Sudan that resulted in the death of over 40 individuals, with many being children and healthcare professionals. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the assault on Al-Mujlad Hospital, located in West Kordofan state, as "appalling" and called for an end to attacks on medical facilities worldwide.
This tragic incident occurred over the weekend, highlighting the ongoing violence in Sudan, where civil war has ravaged communities since April 2023. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have accused the Sudanese army of launching the strike on the hospital, but explicit statements from the army are absent. Civil society organizations have corroborated the RSF’s claims, emphasizing that the hospital was vital to the local community's health, being the only operational healthcare facility in the area.
According to reports, the casualties included six children and five healthcare workers, while dozens were also injured. The WHO's office in Sudan has reported that among the hospital's critical services was a dialysis unit, catering primarily to civilians. The Sudan Doctors Network maintains that the attack was a targeted effort to eliminate RSF combatants who were allegedly using the hospital as a refuge.
As the conflict intensifies, UNICEF has raised alarms regarding the dire situation for children caught in the war, revealing that the aid effort is currently short by two-thirds of the required funding. UNICEF's head, Catherine Russell, indicated that children fleeing to neighboring Chad are particularly vulnerable, suffering from malnutrition, lack of education, and increased risks of exploitation and disease.
Disturbing allegations have surfaced about systemic violence against children, including reports of sexual violence against minors. The ongoing turmoil continues to threaten the lives of many, prompting urgent calls for international support and protection for vulnerable populations in Sudan.
