Rabat – The eastern city of Al-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region faced a harrowing siege last week from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)’s who attempted to gain control over the city, which was the last stronghold of the Sudanese government forces.
The Sudan Doctors Network is calling it a “true genocide.”
The siege resulted in a global recognition of dire humanitarian concerns, and new satellite images analyzed yesterday show mass burials in the city, further raising concerns about the massive scale of violence.
The World Health Organization reported that during the bloody siege, over 450 people were killed in a rampage at Saudi Hospital, including women and children. The satellite images now show what appears to be a mass gravesite at Saudi Hospital.
Imaging firm Maxar Technologies provided satellite images directly overlooking the Saudi Hospital area. The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab analyzed the images, and stated: “It is not possible based on the dimensions of a potential mass grave to indicate the number of bodies that may be interred; this is because those conducting body disposal often layer bodies on top of each other.”
The AP corroborated this statement and identified different-colored soil at the hospital site, indicating that the ground was dug up and reburied.
Assessing images from October 29 — one day after the initial mass killings — AP identified mass corpses, burnt vehicles, and even blood stains from satellite images as well.
RSF killed over 2,000 in just two days
The paramilitary RSF has also not shied away from posting videos in which they conduct summary executions, walk amongst dead bodies on the ground, and tout their weapons.
The ethnically-targeted killings of civilians last week in Al-Fasher by the RSF resulted in over 2,000 deaths over the course of only two days and over 4,500 people fled the city, which was the last stronghold of the Sudanese government.
Alongside the brutal killings are reports of widespread sexual violence against women and girls in the city.
The city has been a point of contention amidst the brutal territorial struggle between the RSF and Sudan’s government since 2023.
The conflict erupted over a falling out of former allies regarding a 2019 transition of power, and a split between the paramilitary forces (RSF) and the Sudanese government. At least 14 million people have been displaced and over 40,000 have been killed since the start of this devastating war.
