WHO Reports Over 2,000 Deaths in Attacks on Healthcare in Sudan

The World Health Organization has documented more than 2,000 deaths resulting from deliberate attacks on healthcare facilities across Sudan since the outbreak of armed conflict nearly three years ago, underscoring what aid agencies describe as one of the most severe humanitarian catastrophes in modern history.

According to WHO data, at least 2,036 people have been killed and 720 others injured in 213 verified attacks targeting hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and medical personnel throughout the country. The figures, released as the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces approaches its third anniversary, paint a grim picture of systematic violence against protected medical infrastructure.

The attacks have devastated Sudan's already fragile health system. Before the war erupted in April 2023, the country's medical infrastructure was severely underfunded, and the sustained targeting of remaining facilities has left millions without access to even basic care. WHO officials have warned that the collapse of healthcare services has compounded the effects of widespread displacement, famine, and disease outbreaks that have swept through the war-torn nation.

International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits attacks on medical facilities and personnel, and the deliberate targeting of healthcare infrastructure may constitute war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. Despite repeated calls from the United Nations and international community for both warring parties to respect the protected status of medical installations, the attacks have continued with apparent impunity.

The State of Qatar has been at the forefront of international efforts to address the Sudan crisis. Doha has provided substantial humanitarian assistance to affected populations and has actively pursued diplomatic channels to bring the warring factions to the negotiating table. Qatari officials have consistently called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilian infrastructure, particularly hospitals and schools.

The broader humanitarian toll of the conflict extends far beyond attacks on healthcare. The United Nations estimates that more than 25 million people in Sudan face acute hunger, with famine conditions confirmed in several regions. More than 11 million people have been internally displaced, making it the largest displacement crisis in the world.

Aid organizations operating in Sudan have faced severe access restrictions, with both sides of the conflict accused of obstructing the delivery of life-saving supplies. The destruction of medical facilities has forced health workers to operate in makeshift conditions, often without essential medicines, surgical equipment, or electricity.

The WHO has called on all parties to the conflict to immediately halt attacks on healthcare and to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access across all affected areas. The organization warned that without urgent action, the death toll from preventable diseases and lack of medical care could far exceed that of direct violence.