At Least 15,000 Civilians Killed in El-Fashir as Torture Continues in Detention Centres

The Media Officer at the Ministry of Health in North Darfur, Lana Awad Sabeel, revealed that at least 15,000 civilians have been killed and thousands displaced following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) militia takeover of El-Fashir.

Speaking to Darfur24 on Tuesday, Lana Sabeel confirmed that arbitrary arrests, torture, hunger, and disease inside detention centres continue unabated.

The Sudan Doctors’ Network accused the militia of systematic violations, including targeting medical facilities and teams, dismantling the state’s healthcare system, depriving citizens of treatment, blocking humanitarian aid, and deliberately killing patients and injured individuals unable to move.

She added that the militia has detained a large number of healthcare and administrative staff since the fall of El-Fashir, exceeding 250 people. Approximately 30 of them have been released, including the Director-General of Health, Dr. Khadija Musa, while the remainder remain in custody.

According to reports from the United Nations, human rights organizations, and survivor testimonies, the situation for women and children has significantly deteriorated since the fall of the city. Mass waves of displacement affected large numbers of women and children, who fled to various areas within Sudan or across borders to neighboring countries. Pregnant women faced severe hardships during the journey, leading to miscarriages in some cases.

Lana Sabeel also noted that missing children have been found alone in several displacement camps, without knowledge of their identities or families, due to families being separated during the escape.