Statement on attacks in Darfur, Sudan

We condemn the attack on the South Hospital in Al Fasher, one of the few remaining hospitals in Darfur. Hospitals are specially protected facilities under international humanitarian law. Attacks on the sick and wounded, children, health care workers and other civilians are unacceptable. We express our sincere condolences to the victims and remind the parties that there are rules in war: all belligerent parties have a duty to protect civilians, hospitals, healthcare and humanitarian workers.  

According to reports, there have been several attacks on the hospital over the past weeks, including on the prenatal care unit, which killed one person and wounded eight, including patients and families. The attacks culminated on Saturday, when RSF soldiers are reported to have opened fire inside the hospital and looted the facilities. The hospital is now out of service, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.  

Directing attacks against civilians or civilian objects, such as hospitals, is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and may amount to war crimes.  

More than 70 per cent of the health facilities in Sudan have been destroyed in the war.

The South Hospital in Al Fasher has been heavily congested since the fighting in the area began in mid-May. During the past few weeks, thousands of casualties have been treated at the hospital, which is now out of service, aggravating further the hardship of the civilian population in the area.

The civil war that broke out in Sudan in April 2023 has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes, with unimaginable suffering of children, women and other civilians.

More than ten million people are displaced from their homes and millions are on the verge of famine. We urge the parties of this conflict to stop the fighting immediately and to agree to a sustained ceasefire. We also remind the parties of their obligation to adhere to international humanitarian law. This includes protecting the civilian population and ensuring that they have access to the humanitarian aid they need.