RSF kills ‘over 460 patients’ at Sudan’s maternity hospital

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in Sudan, reportedly killed over 460 patients and their companions in an attack at a maternity ward in El-Fashar over the weekend.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Sudan Doctors’ Network said RSF fighters “cold-bloodedly killed everyone they found inside the Saudi Hospital, including patients, their companions, and anyone else present in the wards”.

The massacre took place as the RSF took control of the city of el-Fasher after a brutal 18-month siege marked by mass starvation and heavy bombardment.

The attack also followed recent attacks and the abduction of health workers.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday said five of its local staff working as volunteers in Bara, North Kordofan state, were also killed.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the organisation is “appalled and deeply shocked” by the reports.

“Prior to this latest attack, WHO has verified 185 attacks on health care in Sudan with 1204 deaths and 416 injuries of health workers and patients since the start of the conflict in April 2023,” Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

“Forty-nine of these attacks occurred this year alone, killing 966 people.

“All attacks on health care MUST STOP immediately and unconditionally. All patients, health personnel and health facilities must be protected under International Humanitarian Law.”

The RSF began fighting the Sudanese army in April 2023, following disputes over the integration of the two forces.

The group has since taken over the capital, Khartoum, and most of western Sudan.

The United Nations (UN) estimates more than 30 million people in Sudan urgently need humanitarian assistance — one of the largest displacement and hunger crises in the world.