“Massacre at Sudan Hospital: Death Toll Surpasses 1,500”

Hundreds of individuals, including patients, staff, and visitors, lost their lives at a hospital in a Sudanese city devastated by paramilitary forces. The death toll has surpassed 1,500 in what has been described as a nightmarish scenario. Witnesses fleeing the conflict-ridden western city of el-Fasher in Sudan reported horrific acts of violence committed by fighters who seized control of North Darfur’s provincial capital over the weekend, according to the United Nations. The latest incident involved the killing of 460 patients at the Saudi Maternity Hospital by members of the Rapid Support Forces. As part of their offensive in el-Fasher, RSF fighters conducted door-to-door searches, assaulting and shooting inhabitants, including women and children. The prolonged conflict for dominance in Sudan has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 people, although human rights organizations believe this figure to be significantly lower than the actual count, contributing to one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally with over 14 million people displaced. The recent capture of el-Fasher by a dominant Arab-led force has sparked concerns that Sudan, the third-largest country in Africa, may face another fragmentation, reminiscent of the split that led to South Sudan’s independence after years of civil war. Reports from Sudanese residents and aid workers exposed disturbing acts of violence by the RSF following their takeover of the last military stronghold in Darfur after a prolonged siege. The RSF fighters mercilessly attacked everyone within the Saudi Hospital, including patients, their companions, and other individuals within the premises, as indicated by the Sudan Doctors Network, a medical organization monitoring the conflict. Victims recounted the brutal actions of the RSF fighters, with one witness describing how the Janjaweed, a local term for the RSF, showed no mercy during the assault. RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, sanctioned by the United States, admitted to some “abuses” by his forces, promising an investigation without further details. Governor Mini Minawi shared a video online purportedly showing RSF fighters inside the Saudi Hospital, depicting a scene of carnage with bodies strewn on the floor, highlighting the brutal aftermath of the attack. The UN migration agency reported over 36,000 people fleeing el-Fasher, with many seeking refuge in surrounding rural areas. Survivors recounted widespread killings driven by ethnic and political disparities, with vulnerable individuals, such as those with disabilities, targeted and killed, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Witnesses described an environment resembling a “killing field,” with numerous casualties and limited assistance available. In Tawila, a hospital managed by Doctors Without Borders received a surge of patients with injuries from bombings or gunshots, along with malnourished and dehydrated children, many of whom were unaccompanied or orphaned, fleeing the conflict in el-Fasher. The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab reported ongoing mass killings by RSF fighters in el-Fasher, supported by satellite imagery. The situation was described as catastrophic by UNICEF representative Sheldon Yett, with thousands of children already suffering from disease and famine prior to the city’s fall to the RSF. The lack of communication has hindered accurate assessment of the death toll following the RSF’s occupation of el-Fasher, with reports suggesting that the actual number of casualties could be higher than estimated. Before the recent escalation of violence, UN spokesperson Farhan Aziz Haq disclosed that nearly 1,850 civilians had lost their lives in North Darfur, including 1,350 in el-Fasher, from January 1 to October 20 of this year.