Militia Targets Al-Obeid Hospital; WHO Condemns Attack

World Health Organization (WHO) strongly condemned the systematic attacks launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia against the healthcare sector, most recently the treacherous targeting of the British Hospital in Al-Obied early Monday morning. The WHO emphasized that this attack, which resulted in injuries to 12 people, including five medical personnel, poses a direct threat to patient safety and constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The organization warned that targeting medical facilities exacerbates human suffering and hinders access to life-saving services for more than one million displaced persons and citizens in North Kordofan State.

For its part, Sudan Doctors Network revealed that the attack caused serious injuries and critical conditions among medical staff, describing the militia’s actions as a “blatant aggression” that undermines relief and professional efforts. The network explained that the deliberate bombing of civilian facilities has led to the disruption of essential services, endangering the lives of civilians in extremely complex field conditions. The doctors and the international organization agreed that these actions constitute a dangerous escalation requiring the prosecution of the perpetrators to ensure the continuity of medical services and the protection of civilians within hospitals.

The World Health Organization stressed the necessity of providing full protection for hospitals and their staff, warning of a complete collapse of the health system in Sudan due to the militia’s repeated attacks. Medical authorities called on the international community and the United Nations to take immediate action and pressure the militia leaders to stop targeting civilian infrastructure and vital facilities. The statement emphasized that protecting the health sector is an international moral and legal obligation, noting that the attack on the British hospital clearly aimed to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and eliminate what little means of survival remain for the citizens in the region.