New York, March 25 (Darfur24)
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned a drone strike on Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur that killed at least 60 people, including children and healthcare workers.
The attack took place last Friday on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, when a drone, allegedly operated by the Sudanese military, struck the city’s main medical facility, killing dozens and causing extensive destruction.
The World Health Organization confirmed that the hospital is now out of service due to the scale of the damage, severely disrupting access to essential healthcare services.
In a press statement, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Secretary-General is urging all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, which protects civilians, medical personnel, and healthcare facilities from attack.
Guterres called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities and urged the parties to agree to a cessation of fighting. He also reiterated his appeal for engagement with mediators, including his Personal Envoy, to return to negotiations aimed at reaching a lasting ceasefire.
The Secretary-General further stressed the need for a comprehensive and inclusive Sudanese-led political process to end the conflict.
Dujarric added that the United Nations stands ready to support concrete steps toward ending the war and laying the foundations for sustainable peace.