Tragic Loss: Hundreds Killed at Sudanese Hospital Amid Growing Evidence of RSF Atrocities

Sudan is facing a dire crisis as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly killed hundreds in a hospital in El Fasher. This alarming news comes from both the World Health Organization and the Sudan Doctors Network. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his shock at the violence, stating that over 460 people died at the Saudi maternity hospital.

The RSF, a paramilitary group, recently declared control over El Fasher, leading to widespread outrage and condemnation from the medical community. The Sudan Doctors Network accused the RSF of executing patients and staff inside the hospital.

Since April 2023, Sudan’s armed forces and the RSF have been locked in brutal combat, triggered by a power struggle within the military. The fighting swiftly spread beyond the capital, Khartoum, engulfing many regions.

As of now, the army retains control in the north and east, while RSF occupies the west and southwest. El Fasher, home to over a million people before the conflict, has faced severe sieges. In August 2024, famine was declared in Zamzam camp, and earlier this year, thousands were reported killed when the RSF overran the camp.

Expert predictions indicated that the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher would resemble their violent capture of Geneina, West Darfur, in 2023, which resulted in about 15,000 civilian deaths.

The origins of the RSF trace back to the Janjaweed militias, involved in the genocide of African ethnic groups in Darfur since 2003. The U.S. government has recognized the RSF’s actions as genocidal. Many locals continue to refer to them as Janjaweed.

Reports indicate that the RSF has executed at least 2,000 unarmed civilians in El Fasher. The RSF leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, acknowledged “abuses” by his forces but did not give details on any investigations.

Recent satellite images analyzed by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab revealed signs of mass killings at a detention site in El Fasher. The findings are alarming, showing multiple clusters of objects and signs consistent with violence.

Caitlin Howarth, director of conflict analytics at Yale, highlighted the staggering potential death toll, suggesting the numbers could reach thousands. Survivors fleeing El Fasher reported horrific experiences, including beatings, extortion, and sexual assault. Tragically, many who attempted to escape may have perished in the desert.

Witness accounts paint a grim picture. One survivor described El Fasher as a “killing field,” where bodies littered the ground, and cries for help went unanswered. This situation underscores the urgent need for humanitarian response and global attention.

For a deeper understanding of the conflict, you can consult reports from authorities like the World Health Organization and the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab for more insights into this unfolding tragedy.

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