Sudan’s paramilitary forces killed hundreds of people, including patients in a hospital, after they seized the city of Al-Fasher in the western Darfur region over the weekend, according to the United Nations and displaced residents and aid workers.
The 460 patients and companions were reportedly killed at Saudi Maternity Hospital in Al-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement, adding the WHO was “appalled and deeply shocked” by the reports.
The Sudan Doctors Network, a medical group tracking the war, said fighters from the Rapid Support Forces on Tuesday “cold-bloodedly killed everyone they found inside the Saudi Hospital, including patients, their companions, and anyone else present in the wards”.
United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric condemned the violence.
“Today, we were horrified by reports of the tragic killings of more than 460 people, both patients and their companions, at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El-Fasher,” Dujarric said.
“In recent developments, there have been alarming incidents, including assaults and kidnappings of healthcare professionals. Before this latest event, the World Health Organization (WHO) had already confirmed 185 attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan, resulting in 1,204 fatalities and 416 injuries among healthcare workers and patients since the conflict began in April 2023.”
Tragically, over 460 individuals, including patients and their companions, have been reported dead at the Saudi Maternity Hospital. Source: AAP / AP / Airbus DS 2025
