Key Takeaways:

• Over 70 individuals were killed in a brutal drone strike on the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, amid ongoing civil conflict.
• The World Health Organization condemns the attack, emphasizing the urgent need for a cessation of hostilities against healthcare facilities.
• The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to widespread humanitarian devastation, displacing millions.
• As famine grips the region, basic healthcare services are under siege, with up to 80% of medical facilities rendered non-operational.
• International scrutiny on both sides escalates as claims of genocide and ethnic violence surface amidst the chaos.

A tragic drone strike on a hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, has resulted in at least 70 fatalities and dozens of injuries, according to reports from the World Health Organization and local officials. The Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital, the last functioning medical facility serving the besieged population, was packed with patients at the time of the attack. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as dire, calling for an end to violence against healthcare workers and facilities.

This incident is part of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan as the civil war between the army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, continues to escalate. The ongoing conflict has reportedly displaced over 11 million people and led to grave shortages of food and medical care, with U.N. estimates indicating that half of the population is suffering from acute food insecurity.

In recent weeks, the RSF, which has besieged El Fasher, has been blamed for several attacks on civilians and healthcare centers, sparking international outcry. Reports suggest that local officials accuse the RSF of deliberately targeting essential services, leaving the population defenseless during a time of extreme need.

The military has announced that it lifted the RSF blockade on Khartoum and regained control over parts of the capital, marking what they claim as a potential turning point in the nearly two-year conflict. However, RSF officials have dismissed these claims as propaganda aimed at boosting military morale.

This drone attack serves as a grim reminder of the deteriorating conditions in Sudan, where hospitals are under constant threat and violence against civilians persists. Observers are increasingly concerned about the implications of this conflict for regional stability and humanitarian access. Witnesses indicate that healthcare facilities in areas like El Fasher continue to operate under peril, with many medical professionals risking their lives to treat the wounded amid active combat zones. The international community has been urged to intervene, as the need for humanitarian assistance grows increasingly urgent.

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