Over 100 killed in Sudan kindergarten, hospital attacks — WHO

More than 100 people including dozens of children were killed when a kindergarten in Sudan’s South Kordofan state was hit on December 4, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. 

The attacks continued even as parents and caretakers tried to move the injured to a nearby hospital.

The incident is part of a pattern of assaults on health facilities throughout Sudan’s 2½-year civil war. A similar massacre occurred in al-Fashir in October, as earlier reported by Reuters.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the latest violence began with repeated strikes on the kindergarten. 

“Disturbingly, paramedics and responders came under attack as they tried to move the injured from the kindergarten to the hospital,” he said.

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, saying it was carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) using drones. According to WHO’s database, heavy weapons were involved and 114 people including 63 children were killed, while 35 others were wounded.

A WHO spokesperson said the casualty count includes those killed at the kindergarten, during the transfer of patients to the nearby rural hospital, and in attacks on the facility itself. Most of the children died in the initial strike, while parents and medical staff were among the later victims.

The RSF did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has previously denied harming civilians and said it holds its fighters accountable for violations.

Survivors have since been moved to another hospital. Tedros said urgent appeals are underway for medical supplies and blood donations.

(Reuters)

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