A brutal airstrike struck the Al-Mujlad hospital near Sudan’s frontline on Saturday, killing over 40 civilians, among them six children and five medical workers, according to WHO officials. Dozens more were injured in the deadly assault on the healthcare facility.
The attack occurred amid the ongoing civil war between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023. The WHO has issued urgent calls for an end to assaults on hospitals and civilians.
Conflicting claims have emerged over responsibility: the RSF accused the military of carrying out an airstrike in violation of international humanitarian law, while army spokespeople denied targeting civilians, maintaining their operations focused solely on military positions.
Witnesses and aid groups report extensive devastation to the hospital infrastructure, describing scenes of chaos as injured patients and staff were rushed to safety, and essential medical services were halted.
This incident follows a series of similar attacks across the country including the January drone strike on a hospital in El Fasher that claimed around 70 lives highlighting a disturbing pattern of violence against medical facilities.
As Sudan’s humanitarian crisis deepens with tens of thousands killed, millions displaced, and a growing famine—international actors are demanding unfettered access to aid and strict protections for hospitals under international law. But as combat intensifies across multiple fronts, the safety of civilians remains increasingly precarious.
