Full Breakdown
Escalating Violence in El-Fasher: Rapid Support Forces Target Hospitals and Civilians
10/10/2025, 7:53:13 PM
Recent Attacks and Casualties
In a series of violent assaults in El-Fasher, Sudan, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified their campaign against the Sudanese army, resulting in significant civilian casualties. On Tuesday, a drone strike on a maternity ward at El-Fasher Hospital killed at least eight people and injured seven others. This facility is one of the last operational hospitals in the city, which has been under siege since May 2022. The following day, an artillery attack on a mosque sheltering displaced families resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, with 20 others wounded. Eyewitnesses reported that the RSF has overrun the nearby Abu Shouk displacement camp, further escalating the conflict.
Humanitarian Crisis and Displacement
The ongoing conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis in El-Fasher, with the United Nations estimating that over one million people have fled the city since the war began in April 2023. This figure represents approximately 10% of all internally displaced persons in Sudan. The population of El-Fasher has decreased by around 62%, exacerbating the already dire conditions for those remaining. Nearly 80% of households in need of medical care are unable to access it, as the RSF's assaults have forced many health facilities to shut down. The situation is compounded by severe food shortages, with families resorting to animal feed, which has become scarce and prohibitively expensive.
Broader Implications of the Conflict
The RSF's aggressive tactics in El-Fasher are part of a broader strategy to gain control over the Darfur region, where they aim to establish a rival administration. The RSF's siege has not only resulted in widespread displacement but has also deepened the hunger crisis, which the UN describes as the world's largest in terms of both hunger and displacement. The ongoing violence has reportedly killed tens of thousands since the conflict erupted, although exact figures remain elusive due to the challenges in accessing medical care and the chaos surrounding the conflict.
Criticism and Opposition
Critics of the RSF's actions have highlighted the indiscriminate nature of their attacks, which have targeted civilian infrastructure and displaced populations. The UN has warned of "large-scale, ethnically driven attacks and atrocities" in El-Fasher, raising concerns about potential war crimes. Local resistance committees and volunteer groups have reported that many soup kitchens have been forced to close due to a lack of food, further straining the already vulnerable population.
Official Statements and Responses
In response to the escalating violence, the Sudanese army has claimed to have regained several positions from the RSF in El-Fasher. However, the RSF continues to launch near-daily artillery and drone strikes, indicating that the conflict is far from resolution. Medical teams in the city are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties, often resorting to makeshift medical supplies due to the lack of resources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “After the shelling in the afternoon, we pulled 13 bodies from under the rubble and buried them,” — Eyewitness, El-Fasher Resident
- “A survivor of the strike said: "We were 70 families inside the mosque's walls after the Rapid Support Forces entered our homes.” — Survivor of the Mosque Attack
- “The majority of the city’s soup kitchens have been forced shut for lack of food, according to local resistance committees, volunteer groups coordinating aid.” — Local Resistance Committee
The situation in El-Fasher remains critical, with ongoing violence and humanitarian needs expected to escalate further as the conflict continues.
