15-21 March 2026 Sudan News Summary: El Daein hospital attack, aid arrives in Tawila, drug shortages
Arabic news roundup
By William Greenwood
30 tonnes of medical and food aid arrive in Tawila, North Darfur
Save the Children announced on Tuesday the arrival of 30 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid in Tawila, North Darfur, following a complex three-week overland journey, describing it as a “lifesaver” in one of the most hard-to-reach areas in Sudan.
The organisation said the shipment, which originated in Port Sudan, is expected to support more than 80,000 children and 57,000 adults, as well as helping to operate 20 health facilities and a mobile clinic serving displaced communities for up to six months.
These supplies come as Tawila hosts more than 650,000 internally displaced people, most of whom fled violence targeting the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps last year, and the city is almost entirely dependent on humanitarian aid for basic services.
The organisation explained that the shipment, the fourth since February 2025, included essential medicines such as antibiotics, intravenous fluids, vitamins, and medications for malnutrition and cholera, as well as supplies for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
It emphasised that health facilities in the region are suffering from a severe shortage of medicines, coinciding with the influx of large numbers of displaced people, which makes these supplies crucial for maintaining maternal and child health services and reducing the spread of diseases and malnutrition.
For his part, the organisation's Health and Nutrition Director in Sudan, Dr. Bashir Kamal El-Din, said that the shipment arrived at a critical juncture given the escalating humanitarian needs in Darfur, and noted that limited access to healthcare exposes children to significant risks.
From: Dabanga
Sudan prepares for potential drug shortages and price hikes as the war on Iran continues
The war on Iran is raising concerns about serious repercussions on drug supplies and increased manufacturing and import costs, with expectations that its effects will worsen in Sudan.
Sudan already suffers from the destruction of its pharmaceutical manufacturing sector and a shortage of foreign currency.
Approximately 85% of Sudan's industrial sector has been damaged by the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces since 2023, including pharmaceutical factories in Khartoum State which used to produce around 80 types of medication.
Officials and experts believe that the war in the Middle East will directly impact Sudan's drug supply, whether through delayed shipments or increased shipping and import costs.
The National Council for Medicines and Poisons announced a series of measures to mitigate the repercussions of the current war and prevent shortages of medicines and medical supplies.
Port Sudan is still receiving regular shipments, as they were scheduled and departed before the outbreak of the war, but new shipments are facing significant delays.
From: Sudan Tribune
El Daein Hospital ceases operations after bombing kills 39 civilians
Medical sources revealed on Saturday that El Daein Hospital in East Darfur State was put out of service after an airstrike, which the “Tasis” alliance said killed 39 civilians.
Doctors stated that the airstrike forced El Daein Hospital to close after medical staff, patients, and their companions fled, and the RSF subsequently closed the facility.
Doctors reported that a large number of the dead had arrived for treatment from the states of Kordofan and North Darfur, and they expect the death toll to rise.
Ali Mohamed Issa, a member of the volunteer rescue teams, stated that the strikes targeted the emergency department, the children's and women's wards, and the hospital's northern gate, which is crowded with cafes.
El Daein Hospital is the largest health facility in East Darfur, and its closure following the recent bombing exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, especially with the increasing number of dead and wounded and the shortage of medicine and medical personnel.
From: Darfur24
English news roundup
By Samuel Hunt
Dozens killed in strike on Sudan hospital as attacks on healthcare escalate
A strike on El Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur killed at least 64 people, including 13 children, and wounded around 89 others, according to the World Health Organization.
The attack hit a functioning health facility treating civilians, with victims including patients, children and medical personnel, and left the hospital non-operational.
Reports indicate the strike was carried out by a drone, with Sudanese groups blaming the army, while the military denied targeting the hospital and said it aimed at a nearby site.
The WHO condemned the attack and called for an end to violence, warning that attacks on healthcare are continuing to devastate services and civilians in Sudan’s war.
“Enough suffering has been inflicted. The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers and humanitarians.” Said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Sources: The Guardian, Al Jazeera, NPR, WHO