KHARTOUM: The United Nations (UN) and Sudanese medical bodies have expressed deep alarm over escalating atrocities and violence in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, following its capture by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia last week. The crisis is marked by massive displacement and the execution of a dedicated doctor.
Mounting Reports of Civilian Abuse
UN Spokesperson M. Haq expressed profound concern over mounting reports of “grave violations against civilians,” including accounts of “executions, sexual violence, humiliation, extortion and attacks” following the RSF takeover.
Mass Displacement: The UN migration agency, IOM, reported that nearly 82,000 people have fled El Fasher and its surrounding areas since October 26, with many heading towards Tawila, which is already saturated with displaced persons.
Sexual Violence: The UN reproductive rights agency, UNFPA, warned that women and girls have suffered rape, abduction, and “other extreme violence” while attempting to flee the city.
Casualties: Local sources reported that approximately 1,300 people with gunshot wounds have arrived in Tawila after being attacked during their escape.
Execution of Dr. Adam Ibrahim Ismail Condemned
Separately, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Sudan Doctors Network (SDN) strongly condemned the killing of Dr. Adam Ibrahim Ismail in El Fasher by the RSF.
Details of the Crime: The Ministry stated that the RSF militia arrested Dr. Ismail after entering El Fasher and then “proceeded to execute him on the spot in cold blood.”
Targeting Medical Personnel: The Ministry described the incident as a “brutal crime” that “embodies a systematic approach of targeting medical personnel and humanitarian workers.” Dr. Ismail had served for over 700 days in the emergency department of the Saudi Hospital, the last facility providing limited services in the city.
Accountability: The Ministry held the RSF leadership fully responsible for the crime, emphasizing that the act is a “blatant assault on the sanctity of the medical profession” and a “clear violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.”
International Calls for Action
Both the Ministry and the SDN called upon the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), and international human rights organizations to “act urgently to hold the perpetrators of this crime accountable,” stressing that the RSF’s repeated violations “amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
M. Haq reiterated the UN’s demand for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and urged all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, guaranteeing the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers.
The UNHCR warned that with violence escalating, another major influx of refugees into Chad—which already hosts 1.4 million refugees, mostly from Darfur—is anticipated, further straining host communities.
(With inputs from UN and Sudan Tribune)
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