Hundreds of individuals, including patients, medical staff, and visitors, lost their lives in a hospital due to an attack by paramilitary forces in a city in Sudan that has been termed as a place of extreme suffering. The death toll in the city has now surpassed 1,500.
Reports from people fleeing the conflict-ridden western city of el-Fasher in Sudan describe horrifying accounts of brutal actions carried out by armed fighters who took control of the provincial capital of North Darfur. According to the UN, fighters from the Rapid Support Forces killed 460 patients at the Saudi Maternity Hospital on Tuesday as part of their assault on el-Fasher.
Witnesses reported that RSF fighters engaged in house-to-house attacks in el-Fasher, assaulting and shooting residents, including women and children. Many lost their lives from gunshot wounds on the streets while attempting to escape.
The prolonged conflict in Sudan, spanning two years and claiming the lives of over 40,000 people, has led to what human rights organizations consider a severe underestimation of the casualties. This crisis has resulted in over 14 million people being displaced, marking it as the most severe humanitarian crisis globally. The capture of el-Fasher by a dominant Arab-led force has raised concerns of potential further fragmentation in Africa’s third-largest nation.
Residents and aid workers in Sudan have disclosed distressing details of atrocities committed by RSF fighters after they captured the final army stronghold in Darfur following an extensive siege. The Sudan Doctors Network, a medical group monitoring the conflict, reported that RSF fighters ruthlessly killed everyone present at the Saudi Hospital, including patients and their companions.
Commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo of the RSF, who is under sanctions by the US, acknowledged the “abuses” by his forces and mentioned the initiation of an investigation without providing further details.
Governor Mini Minawi of Darfur shared a video online purportedly showing RSF fighters within the Saudi Hospital, depicting a scene of violence and bloodshed. The video displayed bodies scattered on the floor, with a fighter shooting an individual who then collapsed, while other bodies were visible outside.
A significant number of individuals, primarily women and children, were detained by RSF fighters near the Saudi Hospital in el-Fasher. Those who managed to escape arrived in nearby towns, revealing accounts of widespread killings driven by ethnic and political differences, including reports of individuals with disabilities being targeted and shot as they attempted to flee.
The situation in el-Fasher was described as catastrophic by UNICEF representative Sheldon Yett, emphasizing the dire conditions faced by thousands of children suffering from diseases and famine before the city’s takeover by the RSF. The area has been engulfed in violence, with reports of mass killings continuing even after the capture of el-Fasher.
The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab reported ongoing systematic killings by RSF fighters, as evidenced by satellite imagery. The lab highlighted the severity of the situation, indicating that the actual death toll is likely higher than estimated due to challenges in communication and data collection since the takeover of el-Fasher.
Prior to the recent escalation of violence, North Darfur witnessed the loss of many lives, with a significant number of casualties reported in el-Fasher alone.