A devastating drone strike on the emergency department of El-Daein teaching hospital in East Darfur has resulted in the deaths of 64 individuals and left 89 others injured, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday. The attack, which occurred on 20 March 2026, has drawn widespread condemnation from international humanitarian organisations, with the UN’s humanitarian office in Sudan expressing deep dismay at the strike that has reportedly claimed the lives of children and medical personnel alike.
The Incident Unfolded
The assault on the El-Daein hospital has been attributed to Sudanese army drone operations, as confirmed by the Emergency Lawyers, a local rights group monitoring the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF maintains control over much of the western Darfur region, while the army operates primarily in the east, centre, and north of the country.
The WHO categorised the attack on the hospital as “confirmed,” yet refrained from specifying the exact coordinates of the incident. It has been noted that the strike involved “violence with heavy weapons,” which not only impacted the medical facility but also the personnel, patients, and essential medical supplies housed within it.
A Pattern of Violence
El-Daein, the capital of East Darfur, has seen an alarming increase in military aggression, particularly from the Sudanese army, which continues to strive for dominance over the RSF. This most recent attack follows a series of assaults on the city, including a strike earlier this month that resulted in a fire consuming oil barrels in the local market.
The use of drones in this protracted conflict has become commonplace, with reports indicating that dozens can fall victim to these lethal aerial assaults in a single day, particularly in the southern Kordofan region. The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, expressed his horror after 200 civilians were reported killed by drone strikes within just eight days, highlighting the escalating use of advanced drone technology to deliver explosive attacks in densely populated areas.
The Humanitarian Toll
Throughout the ongoing conflict, hospitals have frequently been targeted, with the UN reporting that over 1,800 individuals have died due to assaults on healthcare facilities since the war began, including 173 medical workers. In 2026 alone, there have been 12 documented attacks on health services, resulting in 178 fatalities and 237 injuries. The war has wrought devastation across Sudan, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing over 11 million people from their homes.
The current humanitarian crisis has been described by the UN as the world’s largest, with more than 33 million people in urgent need of assistance. As violence continues to escalate, the implications for public health and safety in Sudan are dire.
Why it Matters
The tragic strike on El-Daein teaching hospital underscores the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, where the ongoing conflict has transformed healthcare facilities into battlegrounds. As international outrage mounts, the necessity for a coordinated global response becomes increasingly clear. The continuing violence not only endangers the lives of civilians but also exacerbates an already critical humanitarian crisis, highlighting the urgent need for peace and stability in the region. The world must not turn a blind eye to these atrocities as the plight of the Sudanese people hangs in the balance.