“Enough blood has been shed,” said WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Enough suffering has already been inflicted. The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers and humanitarian personnel.”
To date, the total number of deaths related to attacks on health facilities has exceeded 2,000 during the Sudan war, which began in April 2023 between rival armies.
Deaths, injuries and damage
During the nearly three years of conflict, the WHO has confirmed that 2,036 people have been killed in 213 attacks on healthcare, including Friday night’s attack in Al Deain.
This latest attack also injured 89 people, including eight healthcare staff, and damaged the hospital’s paediatrics, maternity and emergency departments.
In total, more than 720 people have been injured to date in attacks on healthcare during the war.
Long term consequences
Beyond the devastating human cost, attacks on health care have immediate and long-term consequences for communities that already desperately need emergency and routine medical services.
Al Deain University Hospital is currently non-functional due to extensive damage caused by the attack, causing a critical disruption to essential medical services.
WHO is supporting local health partners to help fill urgent gaps by expanding capacity in other health facilities. This includes:
- Strengthen primary health care services to provide outpatient, pediatric and obstetric care.
- increase capacity to treat the injured
- deploy trauma care supplies and essential medications
“Health care should never be a goal,” the WHO chief said. “Peace is the best medicine.”