Only functioning hospital in El Fasher destroyed by RSF shelling

December 25, 2024 (EL FASHER) – The only remaining operational hospital in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been rendered unusable after repeated shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), doctors said on Wednesday.

The Saudi Hospital, which had been providing critical care and surgical services to the war-torn city, has been hit at least 16 times by RSF artillery and drone fire, culminating in a devastating attack on Wednesday that destroyed the facility.

“The hospital is out of service and will not be able to receive any more patients due to the repeated targeting by RSF artillery and drones,” doctors told Sudan Tribune.

Most patients, including those wounded in previous shelling, have been forced to flee to other areas, including the Zamzam camp for displaced people and the locality of Tawila, in search of safety and medical care.

Sudan’s Ministry of Health condemned the “continuous targeting of civilians, health institutions, and personnel” by the RSF. In a statement, the ministry accused the RSF of deliberately attempting to disrupt healthcare services in El Fasher, calling it a violation of international law and humanitarian norms.

The attacks have damaged critical sections of the hospital, including the maternity ward, operating rooms, pharmacy, and the children’s malnutrition ward.

The Ministry of Health vowed to continue providing healthcare services to the people of El Fasher and praised the medical staff for their resilience and dedication in the face of these attacks.

Most hospitals in El Fasher have been rendered inoperable due to direct targeting by RSF artillery or their proximity to the fighting, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the city.