The situation in Sudan is deteriorating rapidly, with reports emerging of horrific atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Fasher. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Sudan Doctors Network, hundreds of civilians, including patients and staff, have been killed at the main hospital in the city.
WHO Condemns the Atrocities
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the WHO, expressed his outrage, stating that the UN health agency was "appalled and deeply shocked" by the reported killing of 460 people at the El-Fasher hospital. This follows reports from the Sudan Doctors' Network, which alleges that RSF fighters "cold bloodedly killed everyone they found inside the Saudi Hospital, including patients, their companions, and anyone else present."
'Human Slaughterhouses'
The Sudan Doctors Network paints a grim picture, accusing the RSF of transforming medical facilities in El-Fasher into "human slaughterhouses." They also report the kidnapping of six medics, including doctors and nurses, with ransoms exceeding $150,000 demanded for their release.
The El-Fasher Resistance Committee, a group of local activists, confirmed the attack on Saudi Hospital, describing a "horrifying silence" following the incident.
RSF Gains Control of El-Fasher
El-Fasher, once a stronghold of the Sudanese army in the Darfur region, fell to the RSF after an 18-month siege. The UN, aid agencies, and activists are deeply concerned about the fate of the estimated 250,000 people trapped in the city, many of whom are from non-Arab communities. A communications blackout further complicates efforts to confirm the extent of the crisis.
Accusations of Genocide
The Sudan Doctors Network has gone so far as to describe the situation in El-Fasher as "a true genocide," alleging that the RSF has killed at least 1,500 people in recent days. They claim these attacks are part of a "deliberate and systematic campaign of killing and extermination." Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has also released satellite imagery showing potential mass grave sites and evidence of atrocities in the area.
A Bloody Civil War
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army has been raging since April 2023, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of over 12 million people. The RSF now controls all five of Darfur's regional capitals, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of the civilian population.