Hospitals deliberately targeted by Sudan's RSF fighters, BBC investigation finds
A BBC investigation found evidence that Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) systematically destroyed el-Fasher's healthcare system during their siege, with at least 43 attacks on health facilities and numerous medical worker casualties.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
The BBC's findings suggest that RSF fighters deliberately targeted hospitals and healthcare sites in el-Fasher, Darfur, as part of a strategy to dismantle the city's essential services during their year-long siege. This systematic destruction, which included shelling and raids, led to significant casualties among medical staff and forced the closure of critical facilities, raising con…
Imagine a big fight happening in a city, and instead of just fighting soldiers, one side starts attacking the doctors' offices and hospitals on purpose. That's what a new report says happened in a city called el-Fasher in Sudan. Fighters called the RSF are accused of hitting hospitals over 40 times, hurting and even killing many doctors and nurses. This made it super hard for sick and injured people to get help, which is a very serious rule to break in a war.
Analysis
The BBC's extensive investigation into the conflict in el-Fasher, Darfur, reveals a disturbing pattern of deliberate attacks on healthcare facilities by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This systematic targeting, documented through detailed accounts and data, suggests a strategy to cripple the city's ability to sustain its population, thereby exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The findings are particularly alarming given that international law explicitly protects health facilities and personnel during armed conflict, making these actions potential war crimes.
el-Fasher
The city of el-Fasher became a focal point of the Sudanese civil war, enduring a prolonged siege that culminated in its fall to RSF forces. The investigation details at least 43 separate attacks on hospitals and healthcare sites between May 2024 and October 2025, with some facilities being hit multiple times. This sustained assault effectively dismantled the city's medical infrastructure, forcing the closure of vital institutions like the Teaching Hospital and later the South Hospital, which had become the primary surgical service provider. The destruction of these facilities left civilians with severely limited access to medical care, a critical component of survival in a conflict zone.
Dr Muhamed Suliman
Dr Muhamed Suliman, a surgeon who was based in el-Fasher during the siege, provided crucial testimony, describing the RSF's actions as a deliberate attempt to put hospitals out of service. He stated that the health system is the "cornerstone of any city or any state" and that by targeting these areas, the RSF aimed to make it impossible for citizens to remain. His account, corroborated by other medical staff, paints a picture of intense and planned attacks, including the shelling of the South Hospital when it was the only functioning facility. The raid on 8 June, where hospital director Dr Izzeldin Ahmed Dawaud Asow was beaten and left for dead, further illustrates the brutality faced by healthcare workers.
Volker Türk
UN human rights chief Volker Türk has expressed deep disturbance over the BBC's findings, emphasizing that multiple attacks on civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. He noted that these actions "may amount to war crimes," highlighting the grave legal implications for the RSF. While the RSF has denied the allegations, dismissing them as propaganda, the detailed evidence gathered by the BBC, including a chronology of attacks and testimonies from those on the ground, provides a compelling case for further investigation and accountability. The World Health Organization also noted that events in el-Fasher represent "one of the clearest and most severe examples" of the conflict's impact on healthcare in Sudan.
Key points
- A BBC investigation found evidence of at least 43 deliberate attacks by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on hospitals and healthcare sites in el-Fasher, Darfur.
- UN human rights chief Volker Türk stated these attacks are serious violations of international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.
- The systematic destruction of el-Fasher's healthcare system included shelling and a raid on the South Hospital, the city's last functioning surgical facility.
- Over 120 medical workers were injured, 55 killed, and 10 forcibly disappeared or abducted between April 2023 and October 2025.
- The RSF has denied the allegations, calling them propaganda, while a surgeon who joined the RSF-backed government claimed the South Hospital was used as a military base.
The findings suggest a continued disregard for international humanitarian law by the RSF, potentially leading to further systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Without accountability, such actions could embolden parties to the conflict to continue committing war crimes, prolonging suffering and hindering any future peace efforts.
