The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the strike on Al-Mujlad Hospital as “another appalling attack,” emphasizing, “attacks on health must stop everywhere!” The hospital, the only functioning facility in the area, was struck on Saturday, near an active front line in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

WHO's Sudan office confirmed that the dead included six children and five healthcare workers, with dozens more injured. The facility, known for civilian care and dialysis services, had become a vital refuge amid the conflict.

Accusations Point to Sudanese Army

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), alongside two civil society watchdogs—the Sudan Doctors Network and Emergency Lawyers—blamed the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for the attack. The SAF has not issued any public comment. Emergency Lawyers claimed the strike aimed to eliminate RSF fighters allegedly “stationed inside” the hospital, though this remains unverified.

This incident adds to mounting evidence of systematic attacks on healthcare facilities, considered war crimes under international law.

Children Caught in the Crossfire

UNICEF head Catherine Russell, visiting Sudanese refugees in Chad, said the crisis for children is worsening rapidly. “Hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable children are bearing the brunt of both the war in Sudan and a lack of essential services,” she stated. Many are malnourished, out of school, and exposed to exploitation and disease.

Russell also flagged a staggering funding shortfall, with only one-third of the required aid money secured for the humanitarian response.

Sexual Violence and Psychological Trauma

One of the war's most disturbing dimensions remains widespread sexual violence. BBC News Arabic reports armed groups are committing rape and sexual assault, including against children as young as one. Some children have attempted suicide after such abuse.

A War on Life Itself

Since the war erupted in April 2023, the United Nations has labeled Sudan the site of the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. With hospitals destroyed, civilians targeted, and famine looming, attacks like the one on Al-Mujlad Hospital are not isolated—they are emblematic of a war increasingly indifferent to human life. The continued silence from those responsible only deepens the cruelty.