Sudan (Washington Insider Magazine)— Sudanese paramilitary forces, identified as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), attacked the main hospital in North Darfur, resulting in gunfire and the looting of critical medical supplies, according to reports from Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Looting and Violence at South Hospital
On Saturday, RSF fighters invaded South Hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur, stealing an ambulance and other medical resources. This incident led MSF and the Ministry of Health to suspend all activities at the facility. MSF’s statement highlighted the hospital’s crucial role in treating mass casualties and war-wounded patients.
Patient Relocation Amidst Chaos
According to CNN, following the attack, patients were transferred to Paediatric and Saudi hospitals, which were unprepared for the sudden influx. Video footage posted on an RSF social media account shows armed men firing weapons on the hospital grounds. CNN verified the location and authenticity of this footage.
Staff and Patients Evacuated
Only ten patients and a small medical team were at the hospital during the attack. MSF had already begun transferring patients earlier in the week due to escalating regional violence. Most medical staff and patients managed to escape, though the extent of casualties remains unclear.
Ongoing Threats to Medical Facilities
South Hospital is the latest in a series of medical facilities targeted amid the ongoing conflict in Darfur. Previous attacks included mortar shell strikes between May 25th and June 3rd, causing two deaths and 14 injuries. On May 11, an airstrike near Babiker Nahar Paediatric Hospital resulted in fatalities.
Calls for Protection of Medical Services
MSF’s Head of Emergencies, Michel Lacharite, condemned the attack, stressing that warring parties must cease assaults on medical facilities. He emphasized the dire consequences for remaining medical services unable to handle mass casualties and called for immediate action to protect healthcare sites.
International Response and Humanitarian Crisis
The EU’s Foreign Affairs & Security Policy spokesperson, Nabila Massrali, expressed outrage over the RSF’s actions, urging respect for International Humanitarian Law. The United Nations has highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis in El Fasher, where approximately 1.8 million people face imminent famine risk.
Growing Conflict in Sudan
The civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has led to significant displacement and humanitarian needs. The UN reports that more than 8.8 million people have been displaced, and 24.8 million have required assistance since the conflict began.
