UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the killing of at least 60 people, including children and health workers, in a drone strike hitting the El-Daein Teaching Hospital in Sudan's East Darfur state on Friday, his spokesperson said Tuesday.

Since April 2023, the World Health Organization has verified more than 200 attacks harming health facilities in Sudan, resulting in over 2,000 deaths, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General demands that all parties abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, which specifically protects medical personnel and facilities and prohibits attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects," he said.

The UN chief called on the parties to immediately de-escalate the fighting and agree on a cessation of hostilities, Dujarric said.

Guterres renewed his appeal to the parties to work with mediators, including his personal envoy for Sudan, to return to the negotiating table to pursue a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process, the spokesperson said.

"The United Nations stands ready to support genuine steps to end the fighting in Sudan and chart a path towards a durable peace," he added. ■