The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a protracted conflict with Sudan’s military, have attacked a main hospital in Darfur, leading to its closure.
According to an international aid organization, this incident highlights the dire humanitarian situation in the region.
The RSF attacked the South Hospital in al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. They opened fire on both medical staff and patients, forcing the facility to shut down, as reported by Doctors Without Borders in an official statement.
Local media circulated harrowing images of the aftermath: hospital wards and corridors lay deserted, patient beds and medical equipment were damaged, and bloodstains were visible on the floors.
It was also reported that military forces eventually expelled the RSF fighters from the hospital.
Michel Lacharite, head of emergency operations at Doctors Without Borders, expressed his outrage.
“It is outrageous that the RSF opened fire inside the hospital. This is not an isolated incident, as staff and patients have endured attacks on the facility for weeks from all sides, but opening fire inside a hospital crosses a line.”
Michel Lacharite
At the time of the attack, the hospital had already reduced its operations. Only ten patients and a small medical team remained, as evacuations had begun the previous week, transferring patients to other facilities.
Most of the patients and staff, including those from Doctors Without Borders, managed to escape the gunfire. However, the aid group could not immediately confirm if there were casualties from the attack.
Lacharite mentioned that two bodies were found inside the hospital, identified as an RSF fighter and a military soldier, though the circumstances of their deaths were unclear.
This attack is part of a broader offensive by the RSF, aiming to seize control of al-Fasher, the military’s last stronghold in Darfur.
Recent clashes in and around the city have resulted in over 120 deaths.
In response, the military has joined forces with rebel groups to defend the city, which has become a refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people since the conflict erupted.
According to Doctors Without Borders, this was not the first time the hospital had been targeted. Between May 25 and June 3, 2024, it was hit by mortar shells and bullets three times, resulting in two deaths and 14 injuries among the patients.
In addition to the attack on the hospital, the RSF was also reported to have perpetrated a massacre in a village in the east-central province of Gezira, killing more than 100 people a few days prior.
Conflict Ravaging Lives In Sudan
The conflict in Sudan, which began in April last year, stems from rising tensions between the military and RSF leadership, escalating into widespread violence in Khartoum and across the nation.
The ongoing war has devastated Sudan, claiming over 14,000 lives and wounding countless others, pushing the population to the brink of famine.
The United Nations’ food agency recently warned that without humanitarian aid, there is a significant risk of mass starvation and death in Darfur and other parts of Sudan.
Reports of widespread sexual violence and other atrocities committed by both sides have surfaced, with the United Nations classifying these acts as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The RSF has its origins in the Janjaweed militias, which were mobilized by former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir against ethnic groups in Darfur over two decades ago.
These militias were notorious for their brutal tactics, including mass killings and rapes, leading to accusations of genocide. Despite the passing years, Janjaweed groups continue to support the RSF in their ongoing conflict.
As the violence continues to escalate, the plight of the Sudanese people grows increasingly desperate, with urgent calls for international intervention and humanitarian assistance becoming ever more pressing.
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