At least six people have died following a suspected drone strike on a hospital in southern Sudan, officials and human rights organizations reported on Friday. The bombing targeted the Obeid International Hospital in al-Dhaman, Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan province, causing significant damage to the facility’s main building and suspending all medical services indefinitely.
The attack has been attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The Emergency Lawyers, a rights advocacy group monitoring the conflict, confirmed the strike also wounded at least 15 individuals. The hospital, the primary medical center serving the region, announced the suspension of operations pending further notice due to the extensive damage.
Sudan descended into civil war on April 15, 2023, following escalating tensions between the Sudanese military and the RSF that erupted into violent clashes in Khartoum and other areas. Obeid, located approximately 363 kilometers south of Khartoum, remains a contested city currently under military control.
This incident follows a string of attacks in Obeid, including a drone strike on the city’s main prison on May 10, which resulted in at least 20 inmate deaths and was similarly blamed on the RSF. The ongoing conflict has been characterized by widespread atrocities such as mass sexual violence and ethnically-targeted killings. These acts have been condemned internationally as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in the Darfur region.
The war has precipitated a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and portions of the population facing famine conditions. More than 14 million Sudanese have been forced from their homes, and thousands have lost their lives since the conflict began.
