WHO warns of dangerous escalation of attacks on health care in Sudan

PORT SUDAN / CAIRO / GENEVA, 19 December 2025 - Attacks on health care in Sudan are becoming deadlier and more widespread, cutting off access to lifesaving services and placing health workers and humanitarian operations at serious risk, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since the conflict began in April 2023, WHO has verified 201 attacks on health care in Sudan, resulting in 1858 deaths and 490 injuries. In 2025 alone, 65 attacks were verified, causing more than 1620 deaths and 276 injuries. These deaths account for more than 80% of all deaths from attacks on health care verified by WHO in complex humanitarian emergencies globally in 2025.

"Attacks on health care in Sudan have become increasingly deadlier, further undermining access to care at a time when it is most needed," said Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Sudan. "Health workers have been providing health services with exceptional courage and dedication under extremely challenging conditions. They need protection, not bombardment or detention."

The latest incident occurred on 14 December when nine health workers were killed and 17 injured in an attack on a hospital in Dalanj, a town in South Kordofan state. Dalanj is a key administrative and health hub for surrounding communities, where health workers provide critical referral care.

Earlier this month, on 4 December, a kindergarten and the Kalogi Rural Hospital in South Kordofan were also hit, with 114 people killed - including at least 60 children - and 35 injured. Health staff were treating casualties when the attack occurred at the hospital, which serves as a key referral health facility for surrounding rural communities. Evacuations of injured patients to Abu Jebaiha Hospital took place amid ongoing fire.

In Darfur, violence and repeated attacks on health care continue to disrupt access to services. In Nyala, South Darfur, at least 70 health workers were detained, alongside around 5000 civilians, over the past few months according to reports in early December. This incident followed multiple attacks on health facilities in El Fasher in October 2025, including targeted attacks on a maternity hospital that killed more than 460 patients, their families and other civilians, and the abduction of six health workers from El Fasher and surrounding localities in November 2025.

WHO calls for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians, health workers, health facilities and humanitarian operations in Sudan, and urges all parties to ensure safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access in line with international humanitarian law.

Peace is long overdue for the people of Sudan.