El Fasher Conflict: 1,280 civilian casualties and hospital closure looms
June 5, 2024 (EL FASHER)- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced on Wednesday that the conflict in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, has resulted in 1,280 casualties, including both deaths and injuries.
They further expressed grave concerns over the potential closure of the only functioning hospital, which has been bombed three times in one week.
The actual number of casualties is expected to be higher than reported, as civilians face extreme difficulty accessing the southern hospital, the only one operational in El Fasher. Additionally, some residents are burying the dead without autopsies.
MSF stated in a press release received by Sudan Tribune, ” Since the fighting began on May 10 we have received 1,280 casualties at the MSF-supported South Hospital – 203 have died from their injuries”.
They highlighted that the intense fighting in El Fasher, with ongoing bombings of homes, markets, and hospitals, means there is no safe place for civilians. Mass casualties are occurring almost daily.
Tens of thousands have fled El Fasher, which houses 2.8 million civilians, including 800,000 displaced persons. Some of those fleeing have been subjected to ethnic cleansing by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have imposed a tight siege on the historic capital of the Darfur region.
The organization stressed that the South Hospital has been bombed three times in one week, causing injuries and deaths, and putting healthcare providers’ lives at constant risk.
They reported that the South Hospital is the only facility capable of responding to mass casualty events, and there is a very real risk it could become non-operational due to further damage or direct bombing.
The RSF, which is fighting the army and allied armed movements in El Fasher for control of the city, is accused of deliberately bombing the southern hospital, civilian homes, shelters, and displacement camps.
MSF said that many people in El Fasher are unable to reach the hospital due to the significant danger involved in accessing it.
They disclosed that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Health to relocate the South Hospital to a safer location and called on the warring parties to protect civilians, healthcare workers, and medical facilities.
There are fears of ethnic massacres against civilians if the RSF takes control of the city amidst increasing polarization between Arab tribes and the Zaghawa tribe, with accusations against the army of exploiting this polarization.