Over 40 people, including at least six children and five medical staff, have been killed in a devastating airstrike on Al Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan, Sudan, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The hospital, located near the front lines of the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), was struck on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the attack and described it as another severe blow to Sudan's already collapsing healthcare system. He emphasized the urgent need for all parties in the conflict to respect the sanctity of healthcare facilities and personnel, calling for an immediate halt to attacks on medical infrastructure.
Initial reports from an independent legal watchdog, Emergency Lawyers, placed the death toll at nine and claimed the strike was carried out by a SAF drone. However, WHO's broader assessment raised the toll to over 40. The discrepancy highlights the difficulties faced by humanitarian organizations in verifying information amidst active conflict.
The strike on Al Mujlad Hospital is part of a growing pattern of violence targeting healthcare institutions across Sudan. Earlier in January, a drone attack on a maternity hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur, resulted in the deaths of nearly 70 people. Humanitarian groups have documented over 26 attacks on medical facilities since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
With more than 80 percent of hospitals in conflict zones now out of service, the collapse of healthcare delivery in Sudan has led to deadly outbreaks of cholera, measles, and diarrheal diseases. Millions are left without access to basic medical care, and humanitarian agencies have warned of an impending public health catastrophe.
The United Nations and international human rights organizations have condemned the continued targeting of health infrastructure, warning that such attacks may constitute war crimes under international law. The enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 2736, which calls for the protection of civilians and medical facilities, remains a critical issue as violence continues to spiral.
Calls for accountability and international intervention are growing louder, with WHO and humanitarian groups urging all warring parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians. The latest strike on Al Mujlad Hospital marks yet another grim chapter in a conflict that has left thousands dead, displaced millions, and shattered Sudan’s health system.