Over 40 individuals, including children and healthcare workers, lost their lives in a brutal attack on Al-Mujlad Hospital in Sudan during the ongoing civil war, prompting international outcry from organizations such as the WHO and UNICEF.
Tragic Hospital Attack in Sudan Claims Lives of Children and Medics
Tragic Hospital Attack in Sudan Claims Lives of Children and Medics
The World Health Organization condemns the devastating assault on a hospital in Sudan as the humanitarian crisis escalates.
Another tragic chapter in Sudan’s ongoing civil war has unfolded, with devastating consequences. The conflict claimed the lives of over 40 individuals, including six children and five healthcare workers, during an assault on Al-Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan state this past Saturday, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director-general, expressed grave concern over what he characterized as “another appalling attack” on medical facilities, insisting that violence against healthcare must cease immediately.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the warring factions, has accused the Sudanese army of launching the assault on the hospital, a claim echoed by several civil society organizations. However, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have yet to respond to the allegations. The ongoing civil war, which began in April 2023, has led to what the UN describes as the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis.
As evidence mounts regarding allegations of war crimes, including the targeting of medical personnel and facilities, the potential for more violence looms. Notably, Al-Mujlad Hospital was the only functioning healthcare center in the vicinity, providing essential services, including a dialysis unit, to civilians. Reports indicate that the SAF attacked the hospital to eliminate RSF fighters alleged to be hiding there—a claim that has not been officially acknowledged by either side.
In the wake of this tragedy, UNICEF has sounded alarms over the dire situation facing children in Sudan, noting a significant lack of funding for humanitarian aid. Catherine Russell, UNICEF's executive director, highlighted the plight of countless vulnerable children affected by the war, who now face malnutrition, disrupted education, and increased risks of exploitation and illness.
As the crisis deepens, harrowing accounts emerge of sexual violence against children, igniting further global condemnation and calls for urgent intervention to protect the innocent amidst a deteriorating situation.
