Sudan’s Health System Nears Collapse as Hospitals Targeted in Drone Strikes, WHO Warns
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an urgent plea to the global community, warning that Sudan’s escalating conflict has pushed its healthcare system to the brink of collapse. With over half the population—33.7 million people—in desperate need of aid, the country faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Recent attacks on medical facilities have intensified the disaster. On March 20, a drone strike destroyed Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, killing 64 people—including patients and medical staff—and injuring 89 others. Just weeks later, on April 2, another drone attack hit Al-Jabalain Hospital in White Nile State, killing 10 healthcare workers, among them the hospital director, who was mid-surgery. Twenty-two others were wounded.
Hospitals Under Siege
The violence extends beyond aerial assaults. The same day as the White Nile attack, armed groups looted the Family Hospital in Al-Daein, assaulting staff and patients before forcing them out. A similar raid occurred on March 25 at Al-Kurmuk Hospital in Blue Nile State, where equipment was destroyed and a worker critically injured.
These relentless attacks have left Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure in ruins. With medical facilities shuttered or operating at minimal capacity, millions are left without access to basic care. Cholera, malaria, and malnutrition are surging, while trauma cases from the conflict overwhelm remaining hospitals.
WHO’s Dire Warning
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as “catastrophic” in a social media statement, urging immediate international intervention. “Sudan cannot endure this alone,” he stressed.
Humanitarian groups report that less than 30% of health facilities in conflict zones remain functional. Medical supplies are dwindling, and healthcare workers—many of whom have fled—face constant danger.
A Call for Global Action
The WHO’s appeal underscores the need for both political and humanitarian solutions. Without a ceasefire and increased aid, Sudan risks a total health system failure, exacerbating famine and disease outbreaks.
The United Nations estimates that $2.7 billion is needed to address Sudan’s crisis this year, yet funding remains critically low. Meanwhile, displaced families shelter in makeshift camps with little food, clean water, or medical care.
What Comes Next?
As diplomatic efforts stall, aid organizations warn that time is running out. “Every day without action costs lives,” said one relief worker. The international community must decide whether to act—or watch Sudan’s crisis spiral further into tragedy.
— Reported by Nexio News
