Saudi Arabia strongly condemns the targeting of Al-Jabalain Hospital in Sudan

Saudi Arabia strongly condemns the targeting of Al-Jabalain Hospital in Sudan

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its strong condemnation of the attack on Al-Jabalain Hospital in the Republic of Sudan, reflecting the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflicts. In its statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its complete rejection of any attacks targeting medical facilities or obstructing access to healthcare for those in need, emphasizing the importance of full adherence to the rules of international humanitarian law and international conventions that criminalize attacks on hospitals and medical personnel.

General context and historical background of the Sudanese crisis

The attack on Al-Jabalain Hospital comes amidst the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan, which erupted in mid-April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. This bloody conflict has resulted in a severe and unprecedented deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation, with clashes affecting numerous vital infrastructures, most notably the health sector. According to reports from the World Health Organization and other aid organizations, a significant number of hospitals and health facilities in conflict zones have been completely rendered inoperable, placing the lives of millions of civilians at imminent risk due to critical shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies, as well as power outages.

The importance of the event and its expected impact locally, regionally, and internationally

Targeting vital facilities such as Al-Jabalain Hospital has disastrous repercussions on several levels, which can be summarized in the following points:

• Local impact: The destruction of health facilities deprives thousands of Sudanese citizens of their basic right to treatment, exacerbates the health crisis of the spread of epidemics and infectious diseases such as cholera and dengue fever, as well as increasing mortality rates among the wounded and sick who cannot find safe medical shelter to receive care.
• Regional impact: The collapse of the health and service sector increases waves of mass displacement and refuge in neighboring countries, which puts significant economic and security pressure on neighboring countries and the entire region, and threatens regional stability.
• International impact: This event represents a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions and international law, calling for urgent international intervention to pressure the conflicting parties to cease fire and ensure safe passage for humanitarian aid.

The humanitarian and political role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's role was not limited to political condemnation; it extended to intensive diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. In cooperation with the United States, the Kingdom sponsored the Jeddah talks, which resulted in the "Jeddah Declaration for the Protection of Civilians in Sudan." This declaration aims to obligate the warring parties to spare civilians and public facilities the ravages of war. Furthermore, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center continues to operate air and sea bridges to deliver relief, medical, and food aid to the brotherly Sudanese people, in a serious effort to alleviate the suffering caused by the humanitarian catastrophe they are enduring.

A call for peace and a return to dialogue

In closing, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterates its ongoing call to all Sudanese parties to prioritize reason and wisdom, immediately cease military operations, and return to the political dialogue table. The stability of Sudan, its territorial integrity, and the preservation of its national institutions are fundamental pillars of security and peace in the region, and this can only be achieved through a comprehensive political solution that ends the suffering of the Sudanese people and ensures a secure and prosperous future for generations to come.