In a tragic scene, Sudanese doctor Izz al-Din Ahmad Dawood Asu sits on a bed in Omdurman Hospital, recalling painful memories from the war that engulfed his city. Asu narrates how the Saudi hospital in El Fasher transformed from a refuge for civilians into a site of mass murder, witnessing the collapse of the health sector under unimaginable conditions.
Asu, who was one of only ten doctors managing the Southern hospital in El Fasher, performed over 1,200 complex surgeries, many of which were conducted under the light of mobile phones due to a lack of anesthesia and medical supplies. Despite the continuous shelling, the doctors continued to work as the "last line of defense" for civilian lives, disregarding the imminent dangers surrounding them.
Details of the Incident
The tragedy for Asu began with the siege of El Fasher about 19 months ago, where the situation escalated from roadblocks to a "slow execution" after food, medicine, and water were denied to the city. Hospitals were targeted by artillery fire and drones, leading to the destruction of power sources, including generators and solar panels, forcing doctors to perform surgeries in near-total darkness.
Asu describes how patients underwent complex surgeries without sufficient anesthesia, which he considers one of the harshest experiences a doctor can endure. As conditions worsened, the medical team was forced to dig underground shelters and take refuge in containers, while continuing to work for long hours without food, until "ambaz" became their only sustenance.
Background & Context
On the day El Fasher fell, Asu and his colleagues attempted to flee but encountered a checkpoint manned by Rapid Support Forces. Asu recounts that moment with a heavy voice, as his colleague Al-Hadi Hassan was shot in the neck, and despite his attempts to save him, he did not even have a single bandage. Al-Hadi died before his eyes, intensifying the tragedy.
Afterward, Asu was arrested along with a colleague and subjected to psychological and physical torture before being released a week later for a ransom. He describes his escape journey as a "journey of torment," walking on foot amidst corpses and thirst until he reached Chad, leaving behind a city turned to rubble.
Impact & Consequences
Days after the Rapid Support Forces took control of El Fasher, armed men stormed the Saudi hospital, which was the last functioning health facility in the city. According to the World Health Organization, more than 460 patients and companions were killed, and several medical staff were kidnapped in what has been described as one of the bloodiest attacks.
The Sudan Doctors Network confirmed that the attack was not random but targeted everyone inside the hospital, including children, women, and the elderly. Reports also indicate that 22 doctors, including 4 female doctors, were held in inhumane conditions, leading to hundreds of deaths due to the outbreak of cholera.
Regional Significance
The World Health Organization indicates that about 37% of health facilities in Sudan are out of service, at a time when nearly two-thirds of the population requires urgent humanitarian assistance. These events add to a series of violations witnessed by the health sector since the outbreak of war, raising concerns about the future of health services in the country.
Despite his survival, Asu emphasizes that what he lost cannot be compensated, as any later honor does not erase the memory of what occurred. He concludes his testimony by asserting that targeting hospitals and medical staff is not merely a violation, but a "systematic extermination of health services," stressing that his city is now nothing but a painful memory.