The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs emphasized that under international humanitarian law, medical facilities, personnel, and equipment must be protected from attacks, looting, and other forms of violence.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric expressed shock and horror at the attack carried out by the Rapid Support Forces on the South Hospital in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
According to the UN spokesperson, Doctors Without Borders reported that armed individuals stormed the hospital, opened fire, looted the premises, and stole one of their ambulances. He noted that the UN has not been able to verify the number of casualties at this stage but mentioned that there were ten patients and a small medical team in the hospital during the attack.
Health teams from Doctors Without Borders and the Ministry of Health had begun transferring patients and medical services to other facilities earlier in the week due to increased fighting.
The UN spokesperson added, “The South Hospital remains closed after the attack. Our humanitarian colleagues indicate that this facility was one of only two in El Fasher capable of performing any type of surgical procedures.”
The UN report stated that the South Hospital also served as the main referral hospital for treating war-wounded patients in the city, being the only facility equipped to manage mass casualties.
