Thirteen killed as hospital shelled in besieged Sudan city, BBC told

Thirteen Killed as Hospital Shelled in Besieged Sudan City, BBC Told

El-Fasher, Sudan – A brutal attack on a hospital in the besieged Sudanese city of El-Fasher has resulted in the deaths of at least thirteen people, according to information provided to the BBC by local medics. The shelling, which struck the vital Al-Nujum hospital, also injured dozens more, plunging the already dire humanitarian situation in the North Darfur capital into further crisis. Medics on the ground are unequivocally calling the latest assault a war crime, highlighting the devastating and indiscriminate nature of the ongoing conflict.

A City Under Siege, A Hospital Under Fire

El-Fasher, the last remaining stronghold of the Sudanese army in the wider Darfur region, has been under relentless siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias for weeks. The city has become a focal point of the devastating civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF, a conflict that has largely been overlooked by the international community but has resulted in widespread displacement and an escalating death toll.

The Al-Nujum hospital, a critical lifeline for the city's estimated 1.5 million residents, was reportedly hit multiple times during shelling that began on Saturday and continued into Sunday. The damage is extensive, with sections of the facility reportedly destroyed. "The situation is catastrophic," one doctor, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal, told the BBC. "We are losing lives, not just from the direct impact of the shelling, but also because we can no longer provide essential medical care. This is an attack on humanity itself."

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed grave concern over the attack. "Hospitals and medical facilities are protected under international humanitarian law. Attacks against them are unacceptable and must stop," a spokesperson stated. However, such pleas have so far done little to deter the warring factions, who have repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for civilian protection and international norms.

The Grim Reality of Civilian Casualties

The thirteen confirmed fatalities include patients, medical staff, and civilians seeking shelter within the hospital complex. Reports indicate that some patients were killed in their beds, highlighting the sheer brutality of the assault. The wounded are overwhelming the remaining functional parts of the hospital, with limited supplies and a severely strained medical workforce. Many are being treated in makeshift facilities, adding to the already precarious conditions.

Dr. Hawa Osman, a pediatrician who managed to flee the hospital before the worst of the shelling, described the scenes of chaos and despair. "People were screaming, running, trying to find cover. We saw bodies… it was a nightmare. We are supposed to be saving lives, not witnessing them being extinguished like this," she recounted, her voice trembling.

The shelling of El-Fasher has been ongoing, but this direct and devastating strike on a functioning hospital marks a particularly egregious escalation. For weeks, humanitarian organizations have warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in the city, with dwindling food, water, and medical supplies. The blockade imposed by the RSF has made it nearly impossible to deliver aid, pushing the population to the brink of starvation and disease.

A War Crime? Medics Say Yes.

The Sudanese Doctors' Syndicate, a prominent medical body, has been vocal in condemning the attack. In a statement released following the shelling, they declared, "This deliberate and systematic targeting of a civilian medical facility constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and is unequivocally a war crime."

The syndicate has urged the international community to take immediate action, calling for an independent investigation into the incident and for accountability for those responsible. "We have documented countless attacks on medical facilities and personnel since the conflict began. This cannot continue without consequences. The world must not turn a blind eye," the statement continued.

The RSF has not yet officially commented on the shelling of Al-Nujum hospital. However, both sides in the conflict have been accused of numerous violations of international law, including indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure. The sheer scale of suffering in Sudan, largely forgotten amidst other global crises, is a testament to the devastating impact of prolonged armed conflict.

The Wider Humanitarian Catastrophe

The attack on the hospital is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a much larger humanitarian crisis unfolding across Sudan. Millions have been displaced, and a staggering number face acute food insecurity. The United Nations has warned that the country is on the precipice of the world's largest hunger crisis.

El-Fasher, with its significant civilian population caught between warring factions, has become a microcosm of this broader tragedy. The lack of access for humanitarian aid convoys, coupled with the constant threat of violence, has created an environment where survival is a daily struggle. The destruction of medical infrastructure further exacerbates the vulnerability of an already traumatized population.

The international community's response to the Sudanese conflict has been criticized as insufficient. While diplomatic efforts have been made, they have largely failed to achieve a lasting ceasefire or to hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable. The ongoing violence and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, like the Al-Nujum hospital, underscore the urgent need for stronger international pressure and more robust mechanisms for civilian protection.

A Bleak Future for El-Fasher

With the hospital severely damaged, the ability to treat the injured from the shelling, as well as those suffering from pre-existing conditions or the effects of malnutrition, is severely compromised. This latest attack casts a dark shadow over the future of El-Fasher and its desperate population. The hope for a swift resolution to the conflict seems to dwindle with each passing day, replaced by the grim reality of continued violence and suffering.

The world is watching, or perhaps more accurately, the world is looking away. But for the people of El-Fasher, the shelling of their hospital is a stark reminder that the war in Sudan is far from over, and its human cost continues to climb with horrifying regularity. The call for justice and accountability for this latest atrocity must not be silenced.