New York / Paris – A hospital operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was directly targeted in an aerial bombing in Sudan on 20 January, forcing the suspension of medical activities, MSF announced today.

The hospital, located in the Nuba Mountains village of Frandala in the South Kordofan region of Sudan was bombed by the Sudanese Air Force (SAF). Repeated and targeted bombings in the region prevent the safe operation of medical activities, depriving the local population of life saving care.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the bombing of the Frandala hospital”, said Marc Van der Mullen, MSF head of mission. “With more than 100 patients present, we were very lucky not to have more casualties because people simply had no time to seek protection. Everyone is shocked and frightened of further attacks”.

Approximately 150 patients and staff were in the hospital during midday operations when a Sudan Air Force fighter jet dropped a cluster of 13 bombs of which two landed inside the hospital compound and the others just outside the hospital fence. One MSF staff and one patient were injured and the property suffered damage.

This attack is part of an indiscriminate bombing campaign occurring regularly in South Kordofan in the war between Khartoum Authorities and rebels groups in the Nuba Mountains. The population suffers regularly from bombing raids and health facilities are also targeted.

The Frandala hospital was previously bombed in June, 2014. That attack took place despite Khartoum Authorities being aware of MSF presence and activities in the hospital. Several patients were injured and one killed, and there was significant damage to the hospital. At that time MSF publicly condemned the attack and demanded respect of the medical facilities.

“Today there can be no doubt that this was a deliberate and targeted bombing on a civilian hospital structure and part of a strategy to terrorise the community” said Van der Mullen. “MSF calls on Khartoum again to respect the assistance we brought to the population. Despite the setback of today we will try to find a way to continue to provide care to the population caught in his largely undocumented war”.