Up to 500 People May Have Died in the Sudan Hospital Massacre

Up to 500 People May Have Died in the Sudan Hospital Massacre 0

Снимок был сделан незадолго до того, как войска вошли в больницу.

"We have received shocking video recordings and other images that testify to serious violations of international humanitarian law."

After the storming of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces, numerous reports of brutal crimes began to emerge at the UN. According to WHO, 460 people were killed at the city's main hospital, which is also used as a maternity ward.

Recently, "horrifying reports" of extrajudicial executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks on humanitarian workers, looting, and kidnappings have been received, said UN Human Rights Office representative Seif Magango in Geneva.

Communication with El Fasher, the administrative center of North Darfur province in western Sudan, has been cut off, making any attempts to obtain and verify information difficult. OHCHR staff spoke with refugees who left El Fasher and are hiding in the neighboring town of Tawila. "We have received shocking video recordings and other images that testify to serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross human rights violations," said Magango, speaking via video link from Nairobi. According to OHCHR estimates, the number of deaths during and after the capture of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces could be in the hundreds.

The UN representative also reported attacks on the Saudi hospital and other medical facilities, as well as cases of sexual violence, including mass rapes committed by RSF militants. He stated that the killings of humanitarian organization staff have also been documented.

Additionally, reports of serious violations related to the capture of the city of Bara in North Kordofan are coming in, including the alleged extrajudicial execution of five Red Crescent volunteers. "These latest serious violations committed in El Fasher and its surroundings, as well as in Bara, potentially constitute crimes under international law," emphasized Magango. He called for an "independent, prompt, transparent, and thorough investigation" to hold those responsible accountable.

On October 26, the Rapid Support Forces announced the capture of El Fasher, which was the last stronghold of government troops in Darfur. The conflict in Sudan between RSF and the regular army has been ongoing since April 15, 2023.