Eyewitness to Horror: Sudanese Health Worker Describes Massacre Escape

Tue Nov 11 2025 21:49:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amid escalating violence in el-Fasher, Sudan, a hospital technician recounts the terrifying moments before a reported massacre, revealing the loss of colleagues and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

Abdu-Rabbu Ahmed, a laboratory technician, shares harrowing details of fleeing el-Fasher's Saudi Maternity Hospital during a violent assault by paramilitary forces, which allegedly resulted in the massacre of over 460 individuals. Amidst the chaos, he grapples with the trauma of losing family members and colleagues. As Sudan's civil war continues, the humanitarian situation grows dire, raising critical concerns from organizations like WHO regarding the safety of medical personnel and civilians.

In a gripping account of survival, Abdu-Rabbu Ahmed, a laboratory technician from the Saudi Maternity Hospital in el-Fasher, Sudan, recounts the horror of fleeing the city just before an alleged massacre took place. Amidst the backdrop of escalating violence and chaos, he has lost all sense of hope.

I have lost my colleagues, and I have lost the faces of those who used to smile at me; it feels as though part of my body or soul is gone, Ahmed told the BBC from a displaced persons camp in Tawila, nearly 70 km away from the city. The regional hub was overtaken by paramilitary troops known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) at the end of October, after enduring an 18-month siege.

Since April 2023, the RSF has been in conflict with the Sudanese army following a power struggle between their leaders that escalated into civil war.

The reported massacre, claiming the lives of at least 460 patients and their companions, is just one of many horrifying incidents emerging from the ongoing conflict. The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the killings and the abduction of six health workers, further underscoring the dire human cost of this conflict.

The RSF, however, denies these allegations, suggesting they are fabrications, and claim all of el-Fasher's hospitals have been vacated. In a video shared by the RSF, they alleged that female volunteers were present tending to patients.

Ahmed recounts the desperate circumstances faced by medical staff as shelling and violence escalated. He explains how they shared limited food, even working without meals as the RSF tightened its blockade. Most fled when the RSF launched their final attack.

The shelling started around six in the morning. There was a state of terror as civilians and soldiers ran to safety amidst bombing and heavy artillery fire. I saw many people die with no help available, Ahmed recalled.

He expressed deep concern for those who remained in el-Fasher, fearing they would be killed or used as human shields against airstrikes. The chilling reality of the situation is compounded by the testimonies of survivors and satellite imagery corroborating the horrific claims made by various medical organizations.

Moreover, the account of other survivors highlights the chaos and brutality that engulfed the area, with women and children bearing the brunt of the violence. Many have shared stories of separation from family members and facing moments of unimaginable horror.

As the violence continues and humanitarian conditions worsen, the story of Ahmed and those like him underscores the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the escalating crisis in Sudan.