Drone Strike on Sudan Hospital Kills 10, Including Medical Staff; MSF Condemns Attack

A drone strike on a hospital in Sudan has killed at least 10 people, including seven medical staff, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which called the attack "unacceptable" and "appalling." The assault occurred on Thursday at Al Jabalain Hospital in White Nile State, hitting an operating theatre and a maternity ward. MSF stated the attack was "reportedly" carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of two warring factions in Sudan's ongoing civil war.

Esperanza Santos, MSF's head of emergencies for Sudan, said the attack occurred during a children's immunization campaign, compounding the tragedy. "Our thoughts go to the families of the deceased, including our former colleagues," she added. The hospital, a critical hub for medical care in the region, was already struggling under the strain of the war, which has left healthcare infrastructure in ruins. MSF emphasized that the assault targeted not only medical personnel but also the most vulnerable: patients in urgent need of care.

This is the latest in a series of attacks on Sudan's healthcare system since the conflict began in April 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in March that over 200 attacks have targeted healthcare facilities nationwide, with 70 people killed last month alone, including 13 children. In a separate incident on Thursday, a medical supply depot in Rabak, the capital of White Nile State, was also struck, further disrupting access to essential medicines and equipment.

Local rights group Emergency Lawyers described a "recurring pattern" of drone attacks by both the RSF and the Sudanese military since March, which have displaced thousands and worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis. The group accused regional powers of fueling the violence by providing the RSF with advanced weaponry, including unmanned aerial systems.

Sudan's Minister of Culture, Information, Antiquities, and Tourism, Khalid Aleisir, condemned the attack on Friday, calling for the RSF to be designated a terrorist organization and its members prosecuted. He also held regional backers accountable for "military and logistical support" that has escalated violence against civilians. Meanwhile, the Sudan Doctors Network, a local monitoring group, labeled the attack a "deliberate assault on health facilities and unarmed civilians," warning that such actions are deepening the collapse of the country's healthcare system.

As the war enters its second year, the targeting of hospitals and medical workers has become a grim hallmark of the conflict. With no end in sight, MSF and other humanitarian groups are urging the international community to act, citing the urgent need for protection for medical personnel and facilities. "Every attack on a hospital is a blow to the survival of entire communities," Santos said. "The world cannot look away.