Deadly Attack on Hospital in El Fasher, Sudan Claims Dozens of Lives

SDSudan|

A recent attack on the Saudi Teaching Maternal hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, has resulted in the deaths of approximately 70 people, including patients and their companions. This incident is part of escalating violence as Sudan's civil war intensifies. The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes the attack to the rebel group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has faced setbacks on the battlefield against the Sudanese military.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the attack, labeling it a violation of international law. He highlighted that the hospital was receiving a heavy load of patients at the time of the assault, leading to numerous injuries and fatalities.

This crisis follows months of a siege by the RSF in El Fasher, a city housing over one million residents, where humanitarian conditions have dramatically worsened. The RSF's siege has reportedly resulted in 782 civilian deaths and over 1,140 injuries since May 2024, with many in the community struggling to survive amid the escalating conflict.

Saudi Arabia has condemned the hospital attack, while international mediators continue to urge ceasefire efforts amidst the ongoing violence. The RSF has not publicly acknowledged its involvement in the attack but recently issued threats of further military action against rival armed forces within the city.

Sudan has been in turmoil since the 2019 removal of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir, with rising tensions culminating in a military coup in October 2021. The ongoing conflict has displaced millions and contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis across the country.

Weekly Newsletter

Loading...

More from Sudan

Wounded Sudanese Man Reunites with Family After Two Years Apart Due to War

Munzir, a Sudanese man separated from his family for two years due to the ongoing civil war, has finally returned home to Khartoum, thanks to the efforts of a charity and social media. According to local human rights groups, at least 50,000 individuals have been separated from their families since the war began in April 2023. Munzir was wounded by a stray bullet in army-controlled territory in Omdurman and spent time at a shelter for displaced patients following his injury. Mohamed Alfatih, head of the charity Resilience, organized a social media campaign to locate Munzir's family. Through this, they learned that his mother was in southern Khartoum. With diminishing hope and soaring anticipation, Munzir made his way home, witnessing both the beauty and devastation of his city along the way. Upon arrival, Munzir's mother, Khadija, was overwhelmed with joy, stating, "I've been waiting for him for so long." The reunion underscored a moment of relief amid the pervasive violence and uncertainty in Sudan.
SDSudan

Violence Erupts in Sudan's Zamzam Camp, Displacing Thousands Amid Atrocities

A recent assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sudan's Zamzam displacement camp has left at least 400 civilians dead and forced over 400,000 to flee, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The attack began on April 11, as RSF forces shelled the camp, home to 700,000 internally displaced people, and stormed in chanting racial slurs. Community organizer Mohamed* described the violence as "barbaric" and reported heavy resistance faced while attempting to seek medical assistance for injuries sustained during the attack. He revealed that nine staff members of Relief International were killed in the assault. As survivors fled towards El Fasher, 14 km away, or Tawila, 60 km west, many arrived dehydrated and in dire need of medical care, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Conditions in these locations remain dire, with skyrocketing food prices and a lack of resources further compounding the humanitarian crisis. Human rights advocates claim the RSF is using displaced persons as human shields, intensifying fears of targeted ethnic violence. A communications blackout has hindered the comprehensive assessment of the situation, complicating humanitarian responses.
SDSudan

Over 114 Civilians Killed in Sudan’s El Fasher Amid Ongoing Conflict

More than 114 civilians have been reported killed following a series of attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on displacement camps in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, according to local health authorities. Ibrahim Khatir, the director general of North Darfur State's health authority, stated that the brutal assault on the Zamzam camp resulted in over 100 fatalities, including nine employees from the NGO Relief International who were working in a field hospital. Emergency Room, a volunteer organization, reported that an additional 14 civilians died during an attack on the Abu Shouk camp, with scores more injured as a result of heavy shelling. The RSF has not commented on these incidents, which occur amidst ongoing fierce fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF since May 2024. Sudan has faced escalating violence since mid-April 2023, with the conflict now resulting in over 29,600 deaths, as documented by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, an initiative cited by the United Nations.
SDSudan
All Sudan News ->