Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 30-The World Health Organization issued a statement on the 29th, strongly condemning a mass killing in a hospital in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, Sudan. The statement quoted media reports as saying that more than 460 patients and their accompanying staff were shot dead in this hospital on the 28th.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "WHO is deeply shocked by this tragic killing reported by the media". In his statement, he called for "an immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks on medical facilities" to protect patients, medical workers and medical facilities.

According to the WHO, the Saudi Maternity Hospital is the only hospital in El Fasher that is still partially operational. On the 26th, the hospital was attacked for the fourth time in a month, killing four staff members. On the 28th, six medical workers from this hospital were kidnapped. Media reported that more than 460 patients and their accompanying staff were shot dead in this hospital on the 28th.

According to AFP, the leader of Sudan's fast-paced support forces, Dagarlo, admitted on the 29th that "a catastrophe has occurred in Fashir".The UN Secretary-General, Guterres, on the 30th called for an immediate halt to the escalation of the military conflict in Sudan.

Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, WHO has verified 185 attacks on medical facilities. In 2025 alone, 49 such attacks occurred, resulting in 966 deaths. Before the killing, 46 medical workers had been confirmed dead and 48 injured in the city of El Fasher.

The WHO said in a statement that the escalation of violence and siege overlapping with hunger and disease in the city are causing the deaths of large numbers of civilians, including children, and the collapse of the already vulnerable healthcare system.

On April 15, 2023, the Armed Forces of Sudan and the Rapid Support Forces erupted an armed conflict in the capital Khartoum, after which the war spread to other regions. In order to fight for control of northern Darfur, the Rapid Support Forces have been besieging Fashir since May last year. On October 26, the Rapid Support Forces declared full control of Fashir. Sudan¡¯s Sovereign Committee Chairman and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Burhan announced on October 27 that the Armed Forces had withdrawn from the city. At present, the Rapid Support Forces have taken control of the capital of all five states in the Darfur region.