Grenade Attack on Zalingei Hospital

Moatinoon
MSF has reduced and suspended all its activities at Zalingei Hospital in Central Darfur, Sudan, following a violent armed attack inside the facility.

The organization stated that it cannot resume operations at the hospital until all parties provide clear security guarantees for the protection of staff and patients.

MSFs mobile clinic in Fogodiko and its community engagement and health promotion activities have also been suspended, leaving thousands without essential care.

As the only referral hospital serving a population of approximately 500,000, it is the only facility handling complex cases in the area.

The attack occurred after relatives of a deceased patient with a gunshot wound—allegedly caused by looting at a nearby displacement camp—forcibly entered the hospitals emergency room on the evening of August 16.

The situation worsened shortly afterward when another patient with a gunshot wound arrived, also accompanied by armed men. Tensions escalated between groups accompanying patients inside the hospital, and at 10:00 PM, a grenade exploded in front of the emergency room, killing one person and wounding five others, including a Ministry of Health medical staff member.

"One person already lost his life in this explosion, and more could have been killed had it occurred during the day when the hospital was full of patients," says Marwan Taher, MSFs emergency coordinator in Darfur. "Suspending our activities and evacuating our teams is a decision no medical organization wants to make, but our staff cannot risk their lives while providing care."

In February 2024, armed men stormed Zalingei Hospital and stole MSF-rental vehicles, forcing our assessment team to temporarily withdraw before operations could begin. The August 16 attack represents the second major security incident at Zalingei Hospital in the past 18 months.

"Attacks on hospitals and medical personnel are unacceptable and put lives at risk," says Taher. He added, "The presence of weapons inside a medical facility makes it impossible for our teams to operate safely. Without clear guarantees from the relevant authorities regarding the safety of Ministry of Health and MSF staff, we cannot continue our work. The people of Zalingei are in dire need of healthcare, and their access to it must be protected."