WHO says attacks on health care in Sudan grow deadlier, more widespread

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Attacks on health care in Sudan are becoming "deadlier and more widespread," severely disrupting access to life-saving services and placing health workers and humanitarian operations at heightened risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

Since the conflict began in April 2023, WHO has verified 201 attacks on health care in Sudan, resulting in 1,858 deaths and 490 injuries. In 2025 alone, 65 attacks were recorded, causing more than 1,620 deaths and 276 injuries. WHO said in a statement that these deaths account for more than 80% of all fatalities from attacks on health care verified in complex humanitarian emergencies worldwide this year.

The growing toll is further undermining access to care at a time when it is "most needed," said Shible Sahbani, WHO representative and head of mission in Sudan, noting that health workers continue to deliver services with "exceptional courage and dedication" despite extreme conditions.

He stressed that they need protection, "not bombardment or detention."

The latest incident occurred on Dec. 14, when an attack on a hospital in Dalanj, a key administrative and health hub in South Kordofan state, killed nine health workers and injured 17 others.

Earlier this month, a kindergarten and Kalogi Rural Hospital in South Kordofan were also struck, killing 114 people, including at least 60 children, and injuring 35 others. Health staff were treating casualties when the hospital was hit, and evacuations to Abu Jebaiha Hospital took place amid ongoing fire.

In Darfur, violence continues to disrupt health services, the agency stressed. In Nyala, South Darfur, at least 70 health workers were reportedly detained alongside around 5,000 civilians in recent months. This followed multiple attacks on health facilities in El-Fasher in October 2025, including targeted strikes on a maternity hospital that killed more than 460 patients, family members and other civilians, as well as the abduction of six health workers in November.

WHO called for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians, health workers and health facilities, urging all parties to ensure safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access in line with international humanitarian law, saying peace is "long overdue" for the people of Sudan.