The Sudanese Doctors Network said that a doctor has died under mysterious circumstances in El-Daein, the capital of East Darfur State, stressing that the circumstances surrounding the incident raise serious concerns about the safety of medical staff in areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The network explained that the deceased doctor is Dr. Youssef Ibrahim Zakaria, a general surgery specialist at El-Daein Hospital, noting that the incident reflects the scale of the risks faced by doctors and health workers in an environment marked by widespread security breakdown.
The statement added that the late doctor had previously been detained and beaten by a member of the RSF about a year ago, yet he continued working at the hospital to serve the people of the area.
The network stressed that the death of Dr. Youssef Zakaria represents “a painful blow to the health sector and raises legitimate questions about the level of safety available to medical personnel,” noting that the incident cannot be separated from the pattern of violations it has documented in areas controlled by the RSF, where medical practice has become “a life-threatening mission”
The Sudanese Doctors Network called for an independent and transparent investigation to clarify the circumstances of the death, and urged international and human rights organizations to monitor the health situation in East Darfur and pressure authorities to halt any actions targeting medical personnel.
The statement emphasized the need to provide effective protection mechanisms for doctors and health workers, ensuring they are not subjected to violence, detention, or extortion while carrying out their humanitarian duties.
