Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
March 24, 2026 International law
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the March 20 drone strike on a teaching hospital in Sudan's East Darfur state. The death toll from the "horrific attack" continues to rise amid a "sharp increase" in drone strikes against civilians and infrastructure this year, UN agencies reported on Tuesday.
The attack on a hospital in the East Darfur capital of El Daein occurred late on Friday evening. It marked the beginning of a new round of escalation in the brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Intervention Forces, which erupted in April 2023.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the death toll has risen to 70, including seven women and 13 children. Search and rescue operations are underway at the scene. Among the casualties are also medical workers: one doctor and two nurses. The number of injured, according to the latest data, stands at 146.
The UN chief demanded that all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, which provides special protection for medical personnel and healthcare facilities and prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. He called for an immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities.
The Secretary-General also reiterated his call on the parties to engage with mediators, including his Personal Envoy for Sudan, to achieve a sustainable ceasefire. The UN expressed its readiness to support tangible steps to end the fighting and chart a path to lasting peace.
Medical facilities have become military targets
Since April 2023, according to the WHO, more than 200 attacks on health facilities have been confirmed in Sudan, resulting in the deaths of over 2,000 people.
"An attack on a hospital is not just an attack on a building; it is an attack on people seeking medical care, on the medical workers risking their lives to save others, and on the very possibility of surviving this crisis," said Hala Khudari, WHO Deputy Representative in Sudan.
"Sudan is approaching its third year of armed conflict, and attacks on the healthcare system continue," she stressed, noting that medical facilities, ambulances, medical staff and patients "have been repeatedly targeted."
The attack on the hospital in El Daein has effectively forced its closure, and now patients "may have to travel more than 160 kilometers to reach the next higher-level hospital, which is particularly difficult for those in need of specialized care," a WHO spokeswoman explained.
The hospital that was hit served more than two million people in the city itself, as well as in nine other districts in East Darfur.
Search for the guilty
Asked who was responsible for the attack, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokesperson Marta Hurtado said that while the perpetrators have not yet been identified, both sides in the conflict are actively using drones.
"We call on both sides to immediately stop using this type of weaponry," she said.
Hurtado warned of an increase in drone strikes in Sudan this year, which "highlights the devastating impact of high-tech and relatively cheap weapons in densely populated areas."
According to her, from January 1 to March 15, more than 500 civilians were killed as a result of such strikes, the vast majority of them in three states of the Kordofan region.
Strikes in Chad
A UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman also said that "the use of drones is extending beyond Sudan, creating a serious risk of further escalation with regional implications."
She recalled last week's drone strikes on villages in Chad, near the Sudan-Chad border, following earlier ground offensives by the Rapid Reaction Force.
“The ongoing attacks targeting civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure raise serious concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and may amount to war crimes,” Hurtado concluded, calling for an end to “the arms flows that fuel this conflict.”
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.