Sudan’s al-Fashir main hospital closes its doors after RSF attack

The main hospital in al-Fashir, a city in Sudan's Darfur region, has been attacked by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rendering it non-operational, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF). This development is part of the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in April 2023.

Al-Fashir, home to over 1.8 million residents and displaced individuals, has become a new battleground in this war. The RSF, which has already taken control of the capital Khartoum and much of western Sudan, is now pushing further into central regions. United Nations agencies have warned that the people of Sudan are at "imminent risk of famine" due to the conflict.

Why This Matters: The fighting has forced approximately 130,000 people to flee their homes in al-Fashir since April and May, according to the United Nations. The RSF has not responded to requests for comment on the situation.

South Hospital, the only facility in al-Fashir capable of handling daily mass casualty events, has been severely impacted. MSF reported that from May 10 to June 6, the hospital received 1,315 wounded individuals, with 208 fatalities. However, many people are unable to reach the hospital due to ongoing violence.

Michel Lacharite, head of MSF emergencies, condemned the RSF's actions, stating, "It is outrageous that the RSF opened fire inside the hospital. This is not an isolated incident - staff and patients have endured attacks on the facility for weeks from all sides, but opening fire inside a hospital crosses a line."

The hospital had already begun evacuating patients after being affected by fighting three times since May 25. The remaining patients and staff managed to flee during the latest attack. The al-Fashir Emergency Response Room, a volunteer group, reported that several people were killed and injured, and that medicine and an ambulance were looted.

Eyewitnesses confirmed the evacuation and reported that the RSF had launched missiles at the hospital and its surroundings. A separate attack on Saturday at the Abu Shouk camp north of the city affected another medical center, injuring over 30 people and killing at least two.

A report from The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab indicated that around 40 settlements outside al-Fashir have been targeted with arson attacks since March, with local residents blaming the RSF. Leaving the city has become perilous, as those fleeing have been attacked and even killed on the main RSF-controlled road. Most evacuees have taken routes south to Zamzam camp or west to the Tawila and Jebel Mara areas, controlled by armed groups including the Sudan Liberation Army faction led by Abdelwahid Mohammed Nour.

Key Takeaways:

• Al-Fashir's main hospital attacked by RSF, now non-operational.
• Conflict between Sudanese army and RSF began in April 2023.
• 130,000 people fled al-Fashir due to ongoing violence.
• MSF condemns RSF for opening fire inside the hospital.
• Evacuees face attacks on RSF-controlled roads out of the city.