Translated by Irene Cecchi
On the night between January 24th and 25th 2025, an armed drone struck the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El-Fasher, a city in North Darfur, Sudan. The facility, one of the last still operating in the region, was providing essential healthcare to thousands of people, including pregnant women, children and internally displaced persons. The bombing caused at least 70 deaths and numerous injuries among patients, their companions and medical staff.
The attack is part of a conflict that has been ongoing since 2023 between the regular Sudanese army (Sudanese Armed Forces or SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that originated from former Janjaweed militias active in Darfur since the early 2000s. The power struggle between the two groups quickly engulfed much of the country, causing thousands of deaths and displacing millions. Khartoum, the capital, was among the first cities affected but the conflict has since spread nationwide, with particularly intense fighting in Darfur, where ethnic and military tensions have been interwoven for decades. El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur, is the last major city in the region still under control of the regular army. For months, it has been under siege by the RSF, who aim to complete their takeover of Darfur.
Details of the attack
The attack, which took place during the night of January 24th–25th, directly hit the emergency area of the Saudi Maternity Hospital. According to reports, an armed drone struck the facility during a particularly crowded time, causing severe consequences for patients, their companions and medical staff. The explosion caused a partial collapse of the building, damaging nearby wards including the surgery block. The force of the impact also sparked internal fires and made rescue efforts extremely difficult, leaving many trapped under the rubble. Eyewitness accounts confirm that the hospital was clearly marked as a civilian facility and that there were no military installations inside or nearby. For this reason, it can be described as a targeted attack rather than a mistake. Following the bombing, the hospital was evacuated and ceased all operations, depriving El-Fasher of the last facility capable of providing emergency medical care.
Those responsible
Sudanese authorities have blamed the Rapid Support Forces for the attack, accusing them of deliberately targeting a civilian hospital. According to the government, the strike was a deliberate act as part of a broader offensive to eliminate the army’s remaining positions in the city and seize control of El-Fasher. The RSF, however, denied any involvement and accused the Sudanese air force of mistakenly hitting the hospital during an aerial operation. Nevertheless, several independent testimonies, including from doctors present during the attack and humanitarian sources active in the area, confirm that in recent months it has been RSF drones repeatedly striking civilian infrastructure, markets, refugee camps and hospitals. The hypothesis of direct RSF involvement is therefore consistent with their previously observed tactics in the region.
The reactions of the international community
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation from the international community. The United Nations office in Sudan called it “a shocking act of violence” and “an affront to humanity”, urging both parties in the conflict to respect international conventions that protect medical facilities and civilians. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, described the incident as “a shock to the human conscience”. The World Health Organization (WHO) also condemned the destruction of the hospital as “an avoidable tragedy”. Its Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that attacking doctors and patients is a grave violation of international law and urgently called for real protection of the few remaining active healthcare facilities. Saudi Arabia, which funds the targeted hospital, expressed deep indignation, calling the attack “a crime against innocent civilians” and demanded an independent investigation.
A collapsing healthcare system
The attack on the Saudi Maternity Hospital has worsened an already out-of-control healthcare crisis. According to UN estimates, over 70% of Sudan’s healthcare facilities are no longer functioning due to the war. In many parts of Darfur, there is no regular access to medical care. Medicines, qualified personnel, equipment and security are all lacking. Until the night of January 24, the Saudi hospital was the only facility in the city with functioning operating rooms, surgical capacity and the ability to manage obstetric emergencies, war-related trauma and infectious diseases. Every day, it served not only pregnant women and newborns but also war-wounded, displaced persons and people with chronic illnesses. After the bombing, the city has been left without any emergency medical services. Meanwhile, the situation in the refugee camps around El-Fasher, such as Zamzam and Abu Shouk, is dire: there is no clean drinking water, sanitation is poor and there is no access to basic healthcare. Humanitarian organizations report a high risk of epidemics, a rising death rate among children and pregnant women and millions of people facing famine.
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