Devastating Attack on Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, Sudan

Strategic Insights -

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are sounding the alarm on a devastating attack on a maternity hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, where over 460 patients and caregivers have lost their lives. This heinous act is not an isolated incident, as the WHO has documented 185 attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan, resulting in the deaths of 1,204 people and injuring 416 since the conflict began in April 2023. The city of El Fasher has been besieged for over 500 days, and the situation remains dire, with tens of thousands of people facing severe shortages of food, water, and medicine.

Key Takeaways:

  • 185 attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan have been recorded by the WHO since the conflict began in April 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,204 people and injuring 416.
  • 49 of these attacks occurred this year alone, killing 966 people, mostly healthcare workers and patients.
  • 460 patients and caregivers have lost their lives in the attack on the maternity hospital in El Fasher.
  • Approximately 130,000 children are in grave danger in El Fasher due to severe shortages of food, water, and medicine.
  • UNICEF reports abductions, murders, and sexual violence in the city, as well as the detention and killing of humanitarian workers.
  • WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for an immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks on healthcare facilities, while UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell demands an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid flows, and the protection of civilians, especially children.

Statistics:

  • 185 attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan since April 2023 (WHO)
  • 1,204 people killed, 416 injured (WHO)
  • 49 attacks this year alone, resulting in 966 fatalities (WHO)
  • 460 patients and caregivers killed in the maternity hospital attack (WHO)
  • 130,000 children in grave danger in El Fasher (UNICEF)
  • 26,000 people fled El Fasher in the past two days (IOM)
  • Over 500 days of siege in El Fasher (Various sources)

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
  • International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  • Rapid Intervention Force
  • United Nations Children's Fund Executive Director Catherine Russell