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

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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.

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