Civilian Casualties Mount as Sudanese City Falls to Militia Group
The fall of El Fasher, a key city in North Darfur's Jebel region, has unleashed chaos and brutality, with reports emerging of widespread civilian casualties. In the three days since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the city on Sunday, at least six wounded soldiers and civilians were killed, including women who were shot while receiving medical treatment.
Nawal Khalil, a 27-year-old nurse who had been volunteering at the El Fasher South hospital, narrowly escaped with her life. She was shot in the foot and thigh after RSF fighters stormed the hospital and opened fire on patients. The attack left many civilians dead or injured, including elderly women who required medical treatment.
As Khalil fled the city, she was robbed of her phone and money by RSF fighters. Her ordeal highlights the brutal tactics employed by the group, which has been accused of killing more than 2,000 civilians since taking control of El Fasher. The UN has confirmed that videos show "dozens of unarmed men being shot or lying dead" at the hands of the RSF.
Thousands of civilians remain trapped in Garney, a town south-west of El Fasher, where many former soldiers from the Sudanese army and other armed groups are being held captive due to ransom demands. Those who cannot afford these exorbitant sums have been detained for days, with some even dying while in captivity.
The situation is further complicated by the presence of rival militia groups vying for control of the city's remaining territory. The SLA-AW faction has allowed government troops fleeing El Fasher to enter Tawila on condition that they surrender their weapons.
In a video statement, RSF commander Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo promised accountability for any soldier or officer who had "violated the right of any person." However, the group's tactics have been widely condemned by human rights organizations and aid agencies.
The humanitarian situation is dire, with Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting a large influx of people to its clinic in Tawila hospital. Over 1,000 civilians arrived at the clinic after an extremely dangerous journey, many suffering from malnutrition and dehydration.
The fall of El Fasher, a key city in North Darfur's Jebel region, has unleashed chaos and brutality, with reports emerging of widespread civilian casualties. In the three days since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the city on Sunday, at least six wounded soldiers and civilians were killed, including women who were shot while receiving medical treatment.
Nawal Khalil, a 27-year-old nurse who had been volunteering at the El Fasher South hospital, narrowly escaped with her life. She was shot in the foot and thigh after RSF fighters stormed the hospital and opened fire on patients. The attack left many civilians dead or injured, including elderly women who required medical treatment.
As Khalil fled the city, she was robbed of her phone and money by RSF fighters. Her ordeal highlights the brutal tactics employed by the group, which has been accused of killing more than 2,000 civilians since taking control of El Fasher. The UN has confirmed that videos show "dozens of unarmed men being shot or lying dead" at the hands of the RSF.
Thousands of civilians remain trapped in Garney, a town south-west of El Fasher, where many former soldiers from the Sudanese army and other armed groups are being held captive due to ransom demands. Those who cannot afford these exorbitant sums have been detained for days, with some even dying while in captivity.
The situation is further complicated by the presence of rival militia groups vying for control of the city's remaining territory. The SLA-AW faction has allowed government troops fleeing El Fasher to enter Tawila on condition that they surrender their weapons.
In a video statement, RSF commander Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo promised accountability for any soldier or officer who had "violated the right of any person." However, the group's tactics have been widely condemned by human rights organizations and aid agencies.
The humanitarian situation is dire, with Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting a large influx of people to its clinic in Tawila hospital. Over 1,000 civilians arrived at the clinic after an extremely dangerous journey, many suffering from malnutrition and dehydration.
I'm so worried about what's going on in Sudan right now. The Rapid Support Forces are just another name for a militia group that's more interested in taking power than helping people. They're just using the situation to line their pockets with money, and it's heartbreaking to think about all those innocent civilians who got caught up in the chaos. 
And what really gets me is how they're treating these women who were just trying to help others - giving them medical treatment and getting shot for it? It's just not right. 
We need some real accountability from these people, not just empty promises like Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo was talking about. 
what's going on with these militia groups? they're just causing so much harm & suffering to innocent ppl 
and those videos of unarmed men being shot by RSF are just heartbreaking 
the UN needs to do more to stop these groups from terrorizing civilians. MSF is doing an amazing job with their clinic but it's clear that more help is needed ASAP 
this is just horrific what's happening in Sudan it feels like these militia groups have no regard for human life at all i mean these are people who were just trying to get medical attention or pick up their belongings after being forced to leave their homes and they end up getting shot or worse 
the UN is talking about "dozens" of unarmed men being killed and it's not like that's a new story in Sudan, this is just another example of what's been going on for years. how can we just sit back and do nothing? we need to be holding these leaders accountable for their actions 
And these numbers are insane - over 2,000 civilians killed since they took control of El Fasher? That's like something out of a war movie, but it's real life 
. The fact that thousands are still trapped in Garney with no way to get out is just devastating 
. And let's not forget about the rival militia groups causing more chaos... it's like they're all playing a game of "who can be the most ruthless" 
. This whole situation needs some serious intervention stat 
. And the fact that they robbed this poor nurse of her phone and money is just disgusting 
. How can someone do that to another human being? It's like they think they're above the law or something. The situation is so dire now, with all these people stuck in one place without any medical care or food... it's heartbreaking 
. We need to hear from our leaders about what's going on and how we can help. This is not just a human rights issue, it's a matter of basic dignity and compassion 
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. We need more resources, more aid, and more voices speaking out against this senseless violence 
. Can we please just call for a ceasefire already?! 
. And the fact that they're robbing civilians and demanding ransom from their own families is just disgusting 
. The UN needs to step in ASAP and put an end to this bloodshed. And the fact that people are being held hostage for ransom? That's just outrageous 
. MSF is doing some amazing work, but they can't do it alone. We need more governments and organizations to get involved and help these people. This is a humanitarian crisis waiting to happen if we don't act fast 
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is shocking, especially when innocent civilians like Nawal Khalil were caught in the crossfire 
it's heartbreaking that these civilians were targeted while trying to receive medical treatment 
the ransom demands for former soldiers & other captives are just exorbitant 
thousands of people stuck in Garney with no way out is a total humanitarian disaster 
nawal khalil that nurse who almost died just to get robbed by those rsf fighters??! her story should be told worldwide so everyone knows what we're up against here 
MSF is doing some amazing work trying to help all these civilians, but it's like they're fighting a losing battle 
how can that even happen? and what's with all these ransom demands? it's like they're treating people like pawns or something. the UN is right to condemn these groups for their actions, we need more accountability and support for the innocent civilians caught in the middle of all this chaos 
Nawal Khalil's story is so brave and I hope she gets the help she needs. 
. The group's promise of accountability rings hollow when juxtaposed against the overwhelming evidence of brutality and lawlessness on display 
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the militia group RSF is doing some really bad things 
it's like a nightmare come true 
the UN should do more to stop them