Shelling by Sudanese paramilitaries has resulted in the death of five individuals outside Al-Nao Hospital, one of the few remaining medical facilities operational in Omdurman, a city adjacent to Khartoum. This tragic incident occurred on Tuesday and was confirmed by a medical source who spoke to AFP under the condition of anonymity for safety reasons. Among those killed were volunteers associated with the hospital.
According to the source, the shells struck the garden adjacent to the hospital, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by medical personnel and civilians in the area. Al-Nao Hospital, which operates with the support of the medical charity Doctors without Borders (MSF), is situated in a region still controlled by the Sudanese army. Unfortunately, it has been subjected to repeated attacks since the conflict began.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal conflict between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This struggle for power is primarily between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The violence has led to staggering casualties, with tens of thousands reported dead and over 12 million people displaced from their homes.
There have been widespread allegations against both the army and the RSF for conducting indiscriminate shelling of health facilities and residential neighborhoods, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Recent military gains by the army in Khartoum have prompted the RSF to declare a counteroffensive, indicating an intensification of hostilities.
In a further escalation of violence, at least 60 individuals lost their lives in a bombardment carried out by the RSF that struck a busy market in Omdurman on Saturday, underscoring the dire situation facing civilians. The RSF currently maintains control over significant portions of western and southern Sudan, while the army retains dominance in the eastern and northern regions of the country. The ongoing conflict continues to disrupt the lives of countless citizens and strain the capabilities of the remaining medical facilities amidst the chaos.
