World Health Organization Urges Warring Parties to Protect Civilians

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again urged the warring parties in Sudan to protect civilians, healthcare workers, health facilities, and ensure immediate, safe, and sustainable access to humanitarian aid in response to the deaths of two children killed Saturday in an airstrike on the vicinity of a childrens hospital in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted today on the AX platform, "The ongoing escalation of violence in Sudan continues to claim the lives of civilians, including children, and hinders the delivery of life-saving healthcare services."

He added, "The recent bombing near the Médecins Sans Frontières childrens hospital is appalling. Our thoughts are with the families who lost their children."

Médecins Sans Frontières had announced on Sunday the suspension of the Babiker Nihar Childrens Hospital in El Fasher due to Sudanese army shelling in its vicinity.

The organization stated in a press release that an army airstrike 50 meters from the hospital caused the collapse of the intensive care units roof and resulted in the deaths of two children receiving treatment and one paramedic.

The statement clarified that the hospital was one of the few specialized hospitals for treating children and had continued to operate despite the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.

Médecins Sans Frontières urged the warring parties to protect civilians and ensure the safety of health facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law and the Geneva Declaration signed a year ago.