Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 29, 2025 International law
The World Health Organization (WHO) is shocked and appalled by reports of the tragic deaths of more than 460 patients and their caregivers in an attack on a maternity hospital in El Fasher, Sudan.
Prior to this attack, the WHO had recorded 185 attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan, killing 1,204 people and injuring 416 since the conflict began in April 2023. Forty-nine of these attacks occurred this year alone, killing 966 people, mostly healthcare workers and patients.
"All attacks on healthcare facilities must stop immediately and unconditionally. All patients, medical staff, and healthcare facilities must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
El Fasher was besieged for over 500 days. The Rapid Intervention Force reported the city's capture two days ago. Fierce fighting is currently underway there. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) previously reported that approximately 26,000 people fled El Fasher in the past two days.
However, tens of thousands of people remain in the city. They live in dire straits, facing severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is concerned about the fate of the children there. "No child is safe," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
She noted that "the true scale of what's happening remains unclear due to widespread communication blackouts." There are approximately 130,000 children in El Fasher, all of whom are in grave danger. According to Russell, there are reports of abductions, murders, and sexual violence in the city. There are also reports of humanitarian workers being detained and killed.
UNICEF calls for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid flows, the protection of civilians, especially children, and the creation of safe evacuation options for families seeking refuge, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Those responsible for violations must be held accountable, the UNICEF statement states.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.