By Bunmi Yekini
Intensifying drone strikes in Sudan’s western Darfur region near the Chadian border have left more than 100 people wounded in recent weeks, overwhelming a border hospital in eastern Chad and raising concerns over growing civilian casualties, medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said.
The strikes, reported almost daily since early May around the Sudanese border town of Tina, have triggered repeated influxes of wounded patients to Tiné Hospital in Chad, which is supported by MSF.
According to the aid organisation, 116 people injured in the attacks have been treated at the hospital since the beginning of May. Between May 17 and May 26 alone, 69 wounded patients were admitted.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on May 24 when a drone strike hit a crowded cafeteria in Tina market. The attack resulted in 35 wounded people arriving at the hospital in a single day. Three victims were declared dead on arrival, while several others reportedly died at the scene.
Residents in the area have attributed the strikes to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the main parties in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
“We are receiving patients after hours of travel, often in extremely difficult and critical condition,” said Issiaka Abdou, MSF’s head of mission in Chad.
“The injuries we are treating are often extremely severe, including serious burns, blast-related trauma and multiple injuries. We recently treated a child with severe burns to the face, arms and legs. Every delay in evacuation reduces the chances of survival for the most critically injured patients.”
MSF said its medical teams have observed an increasing number of women and children among the casualties.
“In recent days, we have seen more and more women and children among the wounded,” Abdou said. “On May 26, all patients received following drone strikes were civilians. This shows just how exposed people living in this border area are to violence.”
The Chad-Sudan border region has already been heavily affected by the conflict in Darfur, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and strained access to healthcare and other essential services.
MSF warned that repeated attacks are worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation.
“Health facilities in this region are operating in an extremely challenging environment, with high needs and limited resources,” said Cissé Boucari Hamadoum, MSF project coordinator in Tiné. “Despite these constraints, our teams continue to provide emergency medical care and respond to influxes of wounded patients in coordination with the Chadian health authorities.”
The organisation said it continues to provide emergency treatment at Tiné Hospital and refers the most critically injured patients to other facilities, including those in Abéché.
Since war erupted in Sudan in April 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to eastern Chad, according to MSF. The organisation has expanded its operations across the provinces of Sila, Wadi Fira and Ouaddaï, supporting health facilities serving both refugees and host communities.
Humanitarian groups have repeatedly called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and ensure safe access to medical care for the wounded.