The “Popular Resistance” in North Darfur State has revealed that more than 300 detainees have died inside Shala Prison in the city of El Fasher over the past two months, citing deteriorating health and humanitarian conditions.
In a statement carried by the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), the group said it documented more than 300 deaths due to poor sanitary conditions and a total lack of medical care. It noted that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are holding more than 9,000 civilians in Shala Prison, located southwest of El Fasher.
The statement explained that the majority of detainees are wounded civilians suffering from fractures and serious injuries caused by indiscriminate shelling of the city. These individuals have reportedly received no medical treatment, leading to the festering of wounds for many.
The “Popular Resistance” accused the RSF of “deliberately leaving the bodies of the deceased inside the prison alongside the living for long periods,” describing it as a “flagrant violation of human dignity.”
The statement further highlighted a cholera outbreak within the prison, recording 5 to 10 deaths per week due to the spread of the disease and the absence of preventative measures or treatment.
The RSF was also accused of continuing direct liquidations of civilians. The report claimed that last week, the RSF executed 15 wounded individuals inside the Al-Rashid dormitory at the University of El Fasher after accusing them of belonging to the Joint Forces.
The “Popular Resistance” called on the government to expedite the reclamation of North Darfur State from RSF control. It also urged international organizations to intervene urgently to save civilians and detainees in El Fasher from what it described as the “hell of violations” and daily crimes.
The Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in a war since April 2023, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, displaced millions, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
