By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces launched a lethal drone operation on Thursday against a medical facility in the south-central White Nile province. The assault targeted Al-Jabalain Hospital and resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals. This incident marks a significant escalation in the use of unmanned aerial systems within the country’s prolonged civil conflict.
Casualties and Clinical Impact
The strike focused on critical infrastructure including an operating theater and a maternity ward. Among the dead were seven medical staffers and administrative personnel performing humanitarian duties. The Sudanese Ministry of Health confirmed that the hospital’s director general, Dr. Hamid Suleiman, was among those killed while he was performing surgery. Doctors Without Borders confirmed that at least 22 civilians sustained injuries during the bombardment. Survivors required urgent transfer to a secondary facility in Kosti located approximately 80 miles away.
Obstruction of Humanitarian Efforts
The timing of the aerial assault coincided with a local public health initiative. “The attack is even more appalling as it occurred during a children’s immunization campaign,” the MSF said of the strike on the al-Jabalain hospital. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the facility was the only healthcare center serving residents in the immediate area. This disruption further destabilizes a region already struggling with basic medical coverage and preventative care.
Systematic Destruction of Healthcare
Health infrastructure has faced continuous degradation since the war between the army and the RSF broke out in April 2023. The World Health Organization confirmed that over 2,000 people have been killed in 213 attacks on healthcare facilities during the nearly three-year conflict. Last month, a separate strike in the Darfur region claimed 70 lives including at least 13 children. These events reflect a broader collapse of the national health system.
Pattern of Drone Warfare
Local rights groups have identified a consistent shift toward remote aerial combat. Emergency Lawyers reported that the RSF also targeted a medical supply depot in Rabak on Thursday. The group noted a “recurring pattern” of drone attacks by the warring parties since March across South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and the Darfur regions. This evolution in tactics has accelerated civilian displacement and hampered international aid operations.
Allegations of External Support
The Sudanese government has responded with calls for international intervention and legal accountability. Khalid Aleisir, the minister of culture, information, antiquities and tourism, condemned the operation and demanded the RSF be designated a terrorist organization. “We also hold regional backers directly responsible for perpetuating this violent campaign through military and logistical support, including advanced weaponry and unmanned aerial systems, which have escalated violence and targeted civilians,” he wrote on X.
Escalating Humanitarian Toll The human cost of the conflict continues to rise beyond official estimates. United Nations figures place the death toll at over 40,000, though aid organizations suggest the actual number is significantly higher. The Sudan Doctors Network characterized the latest incident as a “deliberate assault on health facilities and unarmed civilians” that exacerbates the suffering of the population.
Calls for Immediate De-escalation
International medical organizations are demanding an end to the targeting of non-combatant zones. “MSF is outraged by these repeated attacks on health care, which have escalated dangerously in recent weeks,” said Esperanza Santos, MSF head of emergencies for Sudan. The organization maintains that medical neutrality is essential for the survival of the Sudanese people. “Health facilities, medical staff, and patients must always be protected. We call on RSF and SAF to immediately stop this spiral of violence against medical facilities,” Santos added.
Strategic Implications for the Conflict
The expansion of drone warfare into the White Nile province suggests a widening of the front lines, moving the conflict into previously stable humanitarian corridors. As both the RSF and the Sudanese military increasingly rely on unmanned technology, the margin for error narrows, placing medical neutrality at unprecedented risk. Without a coordinated international effort to stem the flow of advanced weaponry, Sudan’s healthcare system faces a total collapse that no amount of foreign aid can easily repair.
