Drone attack on hospital kills dozens in El-Fasher, Sudan
- A drone strike on the Saudi Hospital in El-Fasher resulted in 67 fatalities and numerous injuries.
- Local activists indicate the hospital was packed with patients when the attack occurred.
- This incident highlights the severe escalation of violence in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
In Sudan’s Darfur region, a significant escalation in violence has resulted in a deadly drone strike on the Saudi Hospital in El-Fasher. On January 25, 2025, local activists and medical sources reported that the attack killed 67 individuals and injured many others, prompting an urgent response from healthcare and humanitarian organizations. The hospital was one of the last operational medical facilities in a city that has been besieged since May 2024, severely impacting the ability to provide care to the civilian population. Since April 2023, El-Fasher has been embroiled in a conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have claimed control over much of Darfur. Civilians in the city have faced continuous shelling, displacement, and a dire humanitarian situation characterized by famine and lack of access to basic services. The United Nations and various NGOs have expressed profound concern over the safety of the local population, calling for both warring factions to prioritize the protection of civilians. As fighting intensified, the RSF issued ultimatums demanding the evacuation of army forces from El-Fasher, signaling a potential offensive. The attack on the hospital was part of a broader context of retaliation and aggression between the conflicting parties, exacerbated by a series of military losses faced by the RSF. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the urgent need for peace, as the ongoing hostilities have displaced millions and left many areas in a catastrophic state. With the international community struggling to mediate the situation, the recent drone strike marked a tragic reminder of the ongoing human cost of the civil war in Sudan, echoing the historical violence that has plagued the region for decades. Rights groups and UN officials have warned that the situation could deteriorate further if the conflict persists, urging for immediate intervention and humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the violence in El-Fasher and beyond.