WHO Verifies Deadly Sudan Hospital Attack, Death Toll Reaches 64
A strike on Al Deain Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has resulted in the deaths of at least 64 people, including 13 children, two nurses, and one doctor, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The attack, which occurred late Friday, also injured 89 individuals, including eight health staff.
Details of the Attack
The Al Deain Teaching Hospital, located in the capital of East Darfur, has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage to its paediatric, maternity, and emergency departments. This has effectively cut off essential medical services to the city. The attack’s perpetrators remain unknown at this time.
Escalating Violence and Impact on Healthcare
This latest incident brings the total number of fatalities linked to attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan to over 2,000 since the start of the conflict in April 2023. The WHO has verified 213 attacks on healthcare facilities during the nearly three-year conflict, resulting in 2,036 deaths and over 720 injuries.
Call for De-escalation
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a strong statement, saying, “Enough blood has been spilled. Enough suffering has been inflicted. The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarians.”
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in mid-April 2023, quickly escalating into one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and more than 12 million have been displaced from their homes. Both sides have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Support for Local Health Partners
The WHO is currently working with local health partners to scale up capacity at other health facilities in the region to address the urgent gaps created by the Al Deain Teaching Hospital’s closure.