Cairo: United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres on Monday condemned the attack on the Saudi Teaching Hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan, which took place on Friday and left at least 70 patients and their relatives dead, as well as dozens of injuries.
According to Jordan News Agency, in a statement issued on his behalf, Guterres described the attack as “horrific,” noting that it targeted the only functioning hospital in the largest city in Darfur after over 21 months of war, which has devastated Sudan’s healthcare system.
He emphasized that under international humanitarian law, the wounded and sick, as well as medical personnel and facilities, must be respected and protected at all times. Guterres also stressed that perpetrators of grave breaches of international humanitarian law must be held accountable, adding that the deliberate targeting of medical facilities could constitute a war crime.
The Secretary-General reiterated his call for all parties to cease hostilities immediately and take steps toward lasting peace, as demanded by the Sudanese people.