WHO chief urges end to attacks on health care in Sudan
WHO chief urges end to attacks on health care in Sudan following drone attack on a hospital that killed 70 people in North Darfur on 24th January, NBC News reports.
The head of the World Health Organisation called for an end to attacks on healthcare facilities and workers on 25th January, following the recent attack on the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in El-Fasher, Sudan; one of Sudan’s few surviving hospitals.
“As the only functional hospital in El Fasher, the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital provides services which include OB-GYN, internal medicine, surgery and paediatrics, along with a nutrition stabilisation center,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X after the strike on the 24th.
Drone strikes are characteristic of the 2 year long war between the Sudanese military government and the Rapid Support Forces militia group. The war has killed and injured tens of thousands, and displaced millions.
It is unclear which of the opposing sides the drone came from, but according to a source, the Saudi Hospital’s emergency building had been hit by an RSF drone “a few weeks ago“.
Between December 9 and January 14, Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab also observed three advanced drones at the RSF-controlled Nyala Airport, 200 kilometres south.
Since the war began, both the army and the RSF have been accused of war crimes, including targeting civilians and indiscriminately attacking residential areas.
Before leaving office on Monday, the Biden administration sanctioned Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Sudan army chief and de facto ruler of Sudan on 16th January. This follows accusations that the SAF has been attacking schools, markets and hospitals and using food deprivation as a weapon of war.
The leader of the opposing RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, or Hemedti as he is more commonly known, was also sanctioned by the US on 7th January.
The RSF has also faced numerous allegations of receiving funding from the United Arab Emirates. Libya and Russia (through the Wagner Group) are also noted to support the paramilitary.
Attacks on health care in Sudan are rife within the conflict. Up to 80 per cent of the country’s healthcare facilities have been forced out of service, according to official figures. This is particularly troubling news especially following detection of famine and cholera in the largely displaced population.
NBC News, Australia Broadcasting Corporation
