Sudan's notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces accused of targeting hospitals

Sudan's notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces accused of targeting hospitals
Security forces in Sudan have been accused of targeting hospitals and clinics treating wounded protesters, following last week's violent crackdown on opposition protesters.
2 min read
10 June, 2019
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unit raided a government health agency in Khartoum [Getty]

Sudanese security forces have been accused of targeting hospitals and clinics treating wounded protesters, it was revealed on Monday, following last week's violent crackdown on opposition protesters who had been staging a sit-in outside military headquarters in Khartoum.

The opposition said troops from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unit raided a government health agency in Khartoum that supplies medications and other care needs for patients across Sudan.

The claim came from the Sudan Pharmacists Central Committee, part of the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) which has been coordinating the protests.

But Abdulrahman Mohammad, head of the health agency in question - National Medicine - denied the allegation and said the agency provided medicines to whoever needed it, irrespective of their political affiliation.

"We do not differentiate between parties, we respect the Sudanese citizens whatever their views are and we are delivering their needs without any bias to any party or sect," he said.

Read more: Egypt 'offers to help Sudan military regime counter civil disobedience'

Sudan's health ministry on Monday organised a tour for local and foreign media to visit the Omdurman and Khartoum hospitals.

During the tour, the health ministry accused protesters of storming the Eye Hospital that was next to the area of the protest sit-in.

Dr. Sharif Abdulkader, the head of the emergency room at Omdurman Hospital, claimed protest barricades had made it difficult for doctors to reach the hospital.

Sudanese hospitals were reportedly working to full capacity after the crackdown, which left more than 100 people dead and hundreds injured, according to the opposition.


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