The Teaching Hospital in Al Deain, capital of East Darfur, was struck late Friday in a drone attack that killed 70 people, including seven women and 13 children, according to the WHO. Seven health workers were among the dead, with 146 injured.
The hospital, serving over two million across East Darfur, is now closed. Patients may need to travel more than 160 kilometers for care, the WHO said.
WHO Deputy Representative Dr Hala Khudari condemned the attack: "It's an attack on people seeking care, on health workers, and on survival itself." Since April 2023, over 2,000 have died in attacks on medical facilities nationwide.
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Marta Hurtado confirmed both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces use drones extensively. Perpetrators of the Al Deain strike remain unverified.
More than 500 civilians have been killed in drone strikes from January 1 to March 15, mostly in Kordofan states. The attacks have spread across borders, including into Chad, where strikes hit At Tina and Tine last week.
Hurtado warned the widespread use of cheap, high-tech drones in populated areas violates international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes. She urged an immediate halt to arms transfers fueling the conflict.