THE notorious Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, fighting Sudan’s military for over a year, attacked and looted a health facility in the western region of Darfur, an international aid group said today.

The RSF attacked the South Hospital in al-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur province on Sunday, opening fire on medical staff and patients, Doctors Without Borders said in a statement.

This came as the RSF intensified its offensive to win control of the city, the military’s last stronghold in the sprawling Darfur region. 

Two weeks of fighting last month in and around al-Fasher has killed more than 120 people.

Michel Lacharite, head of emergency operations at Doctors Without Borders, said: “This is not an isolated incident, as staff and patients have endured attacks on the facility for weeks from all sides, but opening fire inside a hospital crosses a line.”

At the time of the attack, there were 10 patients and a reduced medical crew, the aid group said.

Sudan’s conflict began in April last year when soaring tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting that has killed more than 14,000 people.

It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties from the attack, according to the aid group.

The RSF has yet to comment on the incident.