In a devastating turn of events, the city of El-Fasher in Sudan has been subjected to a brutal attack, with shelling targeting the Saudi hospital and claiming the lives of at least 13 people. The attack, which also left 16 others injured, including medical staff, occurred Tuesday night. The hospital, a crucial medical facility in the besieged city, suffered significant damage, with reports of shattered windows, shrapnel damage, and destroyed hospital beds.
Medics on the ground have condemned the attack as a war crime. El-Fasher has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over 17 months. This prolonged siege has trapped hundreds of thousands of residents, exacerbating starvation and leaving essential services, including healthcare, in critical condition.
The RSF is currently engaged in a fierce conflict with the army for control of El-Fasher, which is the last significant military stronghold in the Darfur region. This is not the first time the Saudi hospital has been targeted; an earlier attack in January resulted in casualties among children.
The intensification of the RSF’s assault raises concerns about the city’s imminent fall, especially as the army’s ability to provide reinforcements is questioned. The ongoing civil war, now spanning over two years, has plunged Sudan into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, causing immense loss of life.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed grave concern over the escalating situation, calling for urgent measures to protect civilians and ease the siege. Aid convoys, crucial for delivering food and medical supplies, have been consistently blocked, further worsening the plight of the city’s inhabitants.