A BBC investigation links RSF fighters to 43 attacks on medical sites.
Why it matters: The findings may be relevant to accountability efforts over alleged violations in Sudan's war. Separate UN and WHO accounts document additional alleged attacks on medical facilities and staff.
- The BBC identified at least 43 attacks on hospitals and other medical sites in El Fasher between May 2024 and October 2025.
- The BBC reported that 55 medical workers were killed, 120 injured and 10 abducted or forcibly disappeared.
- An OHCHR communication relayed allegations that RSF fighters attacked Al Janobi Hospital three times before raiding it and assaulting staff.
- The BBC reported that Saudi Hospital was El Fasher's only functioning major medical facility when RSF captured the city in October 2025.
A BBC investigation found witness and documentary evidence linking Sudan's Rapid Support Forces to at least 43 attacks on hospitals and other medical sites in El Fasher, North Darfur, during the city's siege and capture. The 43-attack figure and its attribution to RSF fighters come from the BBC investigation; the separate UN and WHO accounts below do not independently verify the full dataset.
The reported attacks, spanning May 2024 to October 2025, included clinics, a dialysis center, Southern Hospital, El Fasher Teaching Hospital and Saudi Hospital. The BBC said Saudi Hospital was El Fasher's only functioning major medical facility when RSF captured the city in October 2025. Its dataset recorded at least 55 medical workers killed, 120 injured and 10 abducted or forcibly disappeared.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the BBC the findings were deeply disturbing and could be consistent with serious violations of international humanitarian law, including possible war crimes. No court or tribunal has made a final legal determination.
An OHCHR communication relayed allegations that Al Janobi Hospital was attacked three times between May 25 and June 3, 2024, before RSF fighters allegedly raided it, assaulted staff, looted its pharmacy and seized an ambulance. The communication describes allegations, not findings independently established in the document.
The World Health Organization said Saudi Hospital was attacked for the fourth time in one month on October 26, 2025, killing a nurse and injuring three health workers. It also reported that more than 460 patients and companions were reportedly killed there on October 28 and six health workers were abducted.
The materials provided for this article do not document whether the BBC or The Wire sought comment from RSF, when or how such a request was made, or any response from the group.
The wider destruction of Sudan's health system has involved multiple parties to the war. The Associated Press reported in April 2026 that nearly 40% of Sudan's hospitals no longer functioned.
By the numbers
- 43 - medical-site attacks identified by the BBC in El Fasher
- 55 - medical workers the BBC reported were killed
- 460-plus - patients and companions WHO said were reportedly killed at Saudi Hospital on October 28, 2025
Yes, but: The 43-attack figure and attribution to RSF fighters rest on the BBC investigation alone. OHCHR and WHO separately documented or relayed allegations about specific incidents, and the supplied materials do not include an RSF response.