World · Africa · 3 hrs ago
BBC finds evidence of 43 attacks on healthcare sites in el-Fasher
A BBC investigation found evidence of at least 43 attacks on hospitals and healthcare sites in el-Fasher, a city in Sudan's Darfur region.
The attacks took place from May 2024 to October 2025, during the Rapid Support Forces' siege and takeover of the city.
The RSF rejects the findings, calling the allegations propaganda.
The investigation also recorded 55 medical workers killed, 120 injured and 10 forcibly disappeared or abducted in el-Fasher between April 2023 and October 2025.
Attacking health facilities and their staff is illegal under international law, and the UN human rights chief said the alleged attacks may amount to war crimes.
The findings highlight the severe damage to healthcare in a civil war that began in 2023; the World Health Organization called el-Fasher one of the clearest examples of the conflict's impact on health care in Sudan.
A BBC investigation found evidence of at least 43 attacks on hospitals and healthcare sites in el-Fasher between May 2024 and October 2025.
The BBC said the attacks occurred during the Rapid Support Forces’ siege and takeover of the city in Darfur.
The RSF rejected the findings, and its health minister called the allegations propaganda.
The investigation recorded 120 medical workers injured, 55 killed and 10 forcibly disappeared or abducted from April 2023 to October 2025.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the findings deeply disturbing and said the attacks may amount to war crimes.
- Who
- Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces are accused of attacking healthcare sites. The RSF rejects the findings.
- What
- A BBC investigation found evidence of at least 43 attacks on hospitals and healthcare sites.
- When
- The alleged attacks took place from May 2024 to October 2025.
- Where
- el-Fasher, in Darfur, Sudan.
- Why
- Not stated.
BBC investigation
Rapid Support Forces
Alleged attacks
BBC investigation
The BBC says its investigation found evidence of at least 43 attacks on healthcare sites.
Rapid Support Forces
The RSF rejects the BBC’s findings.
Characterisation of allegations
BBC investigation
The BBC investigation says the attacks systematically destroyed el-Fasher’s healthcare system.
Rapid Support Forces
The RSF’s health minister called the allegations propaganda and a deliberate attempt to smear the group’s reputation.
The BBC found evidence of at least 43 attacks on hospitals and healthcare sites in el-Fasher.
The RSF raided a hospital, and staff fled as fighters entered, according to the BBC investigation.
The period covered by the BBC’s data on attacks and medical-worker casualties ended.
The BBC published its investigation into attacks on healthcare in el-Fasher.
- Attacks documented
- At least 43
- Attack period
- May 2024 to October 2025
- Medical workers injured
- 120, from April 2023 to October 2025
- Medical workers killed
- 55, from April 2023 to October 2025
- Forcibly disappeared or abducted
- 10 medical workers, from April 2023 to October 2025
- Location
- el-Fasher, Darfur, Sudan
What people are saying
deeply disturbing
It was intense. It was deliberate. It was planned.
propaganda