A deadly drone strike in Sudan’s northern Darfur region on Friday claimed the lives of at least nine people and injured 20 others at the Saudi hospital in el-Fasher.
This healthcare facility, the last remaining open hospital in the city, was forced to suspend its services following the attack.
The Federal Ministry of Health has pointed fingers at the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for launching four rocket-propelled grenades towards the hospital. El-Fasher, a critical hub for humanitarian aid in Darfur, has witnessed intense fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF since May. 
Humanitarian Efforts Crippled in Darfur
El-Fasher has been a lifeline for relief operations led by the United Nations and other aid organizations. However, this recent attack underscores the growing risks to humanitarian workers and civilians in the region.
A resistance committee assisting with relief in el-Fasher reported, “This targeted assault on the Saudi hospital has disrupted essential medical services, deepening the healthcare crisis.”
A Week of Escalating Violence
The drone strike at the hospital comes during a harrowing week for Darfur, marked by a series of brutal attacks.
On Monday, an airstrike on an open-air market in Kabkabiya, approximately 180 kilometers from el-Fasher, killed over 100 civilians, including women and children. Rights group Emergency Lawyers condemned the attack, labeling it a war crime.
“Bombing a market full of civilians is one of the clearest examples of a war crime that exists,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa.
The violence continued on Tuesday when the RSF shelled the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur, killing five civilians, according to the Darfur General Coordination of Camps for the Displaced and Refugees.
Ongoing Clashes Across Sudan
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has spiraled into widespread devastation across the country.
On Tuesday, heavy artillery fire targeted an army-controlled area in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city, resulting in 65 deaths, as confirmed by state-aligned Khartoum Governor Ahmed Othman Hamza.
Since the conflict erupted, the toll has been staggering: over 16,000 deaths, 10 million people displaced, and 25 million in desperate need of humanitarian aid, according to United Nations estimates.
As Sudan’s civilian casualties mount, the international community faces growing pressure to intervene. The continuous targeting of hospitals, markets, and displacement camps raises grave concerns about violations of international humanitarian law.
Will global powers step in to halt the escalating crisis and protect the lives of Sudanese civilians?
Read More:
