A Survivor’s Voice
Abdu‑Rabbu Ahmed, a laboratory technician at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, has given a harrowing account of his escape just ahead of what is being described as a massacre of patients, hospital staff and civilians. The testimony comes from a displaced-persons camp in Tawila, some 70 km west of El Fasher.
“I have lost my colleagues… It feels as if you lost a big part of your body or your soul,” Ahmed said, describing the horror that unfolded during the final days of the siege.
Siege, Assault and Alleged Mass Killings
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in late October 2025 after an extended siege. Ahmed and other hospital staff endured months of shelling, drones, blockade of supplies and exhaustion. On the morning of the assault:
- “The shelling started around six in the morning… there was a state of terror. Drones were bombing us. Heavy artillery too. I saw many people die on the spot.”
- Satellite imagery analysed by researchers shows evidence of mass graves and charred remains in the hospital compound.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it is “appalled and deeply shocked” by credible reports that over 460 patients and companions were killed in the hospital during the assault.
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Personal Loss and Trauma
Ahmed’s account is not only that of a witness, but of someone who lost much of his family in the unfolding chaos. His parents remain missing; his sister and two brothers were killed. He said:
“I am very worried about the fate of the people inside El Fasher — they may be killed. And they may be used as human shields.”
Why This Is Significant
- Hospitals under attack: El Fasher’s last functional major hospital reportedly became a target—going from sanctuary to scene of alleged mass atrocity.
- Accountability & War-crimes risk: If verified, the scale and nature of the killings could trigger investigations for war crimes and crimes against humanity under the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- Humanitarian nightmare: Thousands fled amid the violence; many remain unaccounted for or were detained, raising fears of further abducted, missing or killed civilians.
What Comes Next
- Independent investigations including satellite-image analysis and eyewitness collection are underway; verification will be vital.
- International pressure is mounting for safe humanitarian access, protection of medical facilities and accountability for perpetrators.
- For survivors like Ahmed, return to El Fasher no longer holds hope: “Even if there was a small hope, I remember what happened in front of me.”
