WHO Chief Hits Out Over Mass Killings in El-Fasher Hospital
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El-Fasher Hospital Massacre: RSF Accused of Killing Hundreds in Sudan
Table of Contents
Reports indicate the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia killed hundreds of civilians at the Saudi Hospital in el-Fasher, Sudan, following the city’s capture. This incident raises serious concerns about the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
What Happened: The Events in El-Fasher
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are accused of killing approximately 460 civilians at the Saudi Hospital in el-Fasher, Sudan, days after seizing control of the city. The UN health agency, led by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed being “appalled and deeply shocked” by the reports. The Sudan doctors’ Network reported that RSF fighters “cold bloodedly killed everyone they found inside” the hospital, including patients, their companions, and other personnel.
The el-Fasher Resistance Committee, a local activist group, corroborated the attack, noting a disturbing silence following the incident. the Saudi Hospital, now described as a “human slaughterhouse” by the Sudan Doctors’ network, was reportedly targeted during the RSF’s offensive. Moreover,six medical personnel – four doctors,a pharmacist,and a nurse – have been kidnapped,wiht the RSF allegedly demanding ransoms exceeding $150,000 (£114,000) for their release.
Context: the Siege of El-Fasher and the Darfur conflict
El-Fasher held the distinction of being the army’s last stronghold in the Darfur region. The RSF’s capture of the city followed an 18-month siege characterized by widespread starvation and relentless bombardment. This siege substantially exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023, stemming from a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF. However, the conflict in Darfur has taken on a particularly dangerous ethnic dimension. The RSF and allied Arab militias have been repeatedly accused of targeting individuals from non-Arab ethnic groups, allegations the RSF denies. This echoes the devastating ethnic violence that plagued Darfur in the early 2000s.
The fall of El-Fasher is a significant turning point in the conflict, raising fears for the safety of the estimated 250,000 people trapped within the city, many of whom belong to non-Arab communities. A communications blackout is hindering efforts to ascertain the full extent of the crisis.
Who is Affected? The Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur
The immediate victims of the hospital massacre are the hundreds of civilians killed and the medical personnel kidnapped. Tho, the broader impact extends to the entire population of el-Fasher and the wider Darfur region.
Vulnerable Groups:
- Non-Arab Communities: Historically targeted in Darfur,these communities are now facing increased risk of violence.
- Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): El-Fasher hosted a large number of IDPs, who are now particularly vulnerable.
- Patients and Medical Staff: The attack on the hospital directly targeted those providing and receiving essential healthcare.
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