The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly converted a large section of Al-Nuhud Hospital in West Kordofan, Sudan, into a military command center and barracks, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. The hospital, located in a city long-contested during Sudan’s three-year civil war, has been under RSF control for over five months, significantly disrupting medical services in the region.

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Humanitarian Concerns and Healthcare Impact

The Sudan Doctors Network, a nongovernmental organization monitoring health services, said the military use of the hospital constitutes a blatant violation of the sanctity of medical institutions and impedes civilians’ right to healthcare.

“As a result, the hospital is suffering from a severe shortage of healthcare workers, leaving the remaining medical services extremely limited and unable to meet patients’ needs,” the NGO stated.

Some medical personnel reportedly fled the city after being accused of cooperating with the RSF, exacerbating the crisis. The hospital’s conversion into a military facility has left the population with critically reduced access to essential treatment.

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RSF and SAF: Background of the Conflict

Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. Despite regional and international mediation, the conflict has continued, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing over 12 million people, creating what the United Nations has called the world’s largest humanitarian disaster.

The RSF is a paramilitary force and a bitter rival of the SAF, often accused of mass killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence. The SAF has also been accused of committing atrocities, highlighting the widespread suffering faced by civilians.

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Fleeing Civilians and Child Refugees

The humanitarian situation worsened after the RSF seized el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, on October 26, following an 18-month siege that cut off food, medicine, and basic supplies.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported that at least 400 unaccompanied children arrived in the town of Tawila, though the actual number is likely higher. These children fled the horrors of war and the RSF’s violent takeover, highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict on vulnerable populations.

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International Response and Ceasefire Efforts

The United States recently proposed a ceasefire to Sudan’s warring parties. While the RSF unilaterally declared a cessation of hostilities, the SAF continues military operations, including repelling an RSF attack on Babnusa in West Kordofan, the latest front in the conflict.

Sudan’s de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, called on US President Donald Trump to help broker peace, emphasizing that Sudanese civilians rely on international leadership to end the war. Trump has expressed willingness to intervene following encouragement from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

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Broader Implications

The militarization of hospitals in West Kordofan underscores the destruction of civilian infrastructure during the ongoing conflict and the targeting of humanitarian institutions. International human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned such actions, emphasizing that hospitals and medical facilities must remain neutral zones under international humanitarian law.

The situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, with millions of people relying on international aid to survive, and the ongoing conflict threatening regional stability in North and South Sudan.