In brief
BBC journalists uncovered evidence that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) deliberately destroyed health infrastructure in el‑Fasher during a year‑long siege. The investigation, based on eyewitness accounts from doctors and on‑ground reports, documents 43 separate attacks on hospitals and clinics between May 2024 and October 2025, killing and abducting over a hundred medical staff. UN officials called the findings deeply disturbing and consistent with violations of international humanitarian law. Despite the RSF’s denial and claims of propaganda, the evidence suggests a systematic campaign to cripple the city’s healthcare system.
Sudanese Hospitals Targeted: BBC Investigation Reveals Systematic Attacks by RSF
BBC investigative reporters have found evidence that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intentionally destroyed medical facilities in el‑Fasher, a town in western Sudan, during a year‑long siege that began in May 2024. Using testimony from doctors on the ground and analysis of satellite imagery, the investigation details at least 43 separate attacks on hospitals, clinics and medical warehouses from May 2024 to October 2025.
The attacks were often repeated against the same site, and included shelling, rocket strikes and drone‑guided precision strikes. The cumulative effect left the city’s main Teaching Hospital, the south‑side emergency hospital and a number of private clinics non‑functional, forcing patients to flee and forcing staff to operate under threat of sudden bombardment.
Medical personnel reported that RSF forces entered hospital premises, used ethnic slurs, beat staff, and threatened to kill anyone who resisted. One surgeon described how, during an October 2025 raid, RSF fighters surrounded the South Hospital, beat him with rifle butt‑ends and threatened him with a pistol. After the raid, he recovered only after feigning death.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called the findings deeply disturbing, describing the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure as “serious violations of international humanitarian law” and potentially war crimes. The BBC has shown the evidence to the UN office and urged prompt accountability.
RSF and the Sudanese army have denied any wrongdoing, alleging that the reports are propaganda intended to smear their reputation. They claim hospitals were used as military bases by the opposition. Independent investigations to date have not confirmed these claims.
The attacks created a humanitarian crisis: as of October 2025, the Saudi Hospital was the sole functioning health facility in el‑Fasher, operating under makeshift conditions with sandbags and underground bunkers. Over 120 medical staff were injured or killed, and 55 doctors were confirmed dead, with 10 abducted.
In a live‑action episode of our breaking‑news feed, reporters will bring you updated mapping of attack sites and real‑time health‑service status in el‑Fasher. Stay tuned to PulseWire for live coverage and crowdsourced verification.
For a live interactive situational map, click the link: View Map
