Reports indicate that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nyala, South Darfur, have begun charging fees for prosthetics provided to civilians with disabilities. The move comes after the RSF resumed operations at a prosthetics manufacturing facility originally operated by the National Center for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
According to a former employee of the center, the factory—previously serving individuals in Darfur and Kordofan for free with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross—now offers prosthetics at a cost exceeding 400,000 Sudanese pounds for civilians. In contrast, RSF soldiers injured in battles receive prosthetics free of charge.
Before the outbreak of the war, the center catered to 1,500 individuals annually without charge, relying on international donations for raw materials. Supplies brought in February 2023 were reportedly sufficient for a year, and the facility remained undamaged despite the conflict. However, its reactivation under RSF control has shifted its focus to serving military personnel, with efforts to secure international assistance yet to yield results.
Many civilians in need of prosthetics are unable to afford the new fees, forcing them to delay or forgo replacements. A person with a disability described paying 3,000 Sudanese pounds for a prosthetic limb after the facility reopened but criticized the RSF for imposing fees on services that were once free. He noted that many war-injured civilians lack the financial means to obtain prosthetics, as they often rely on family support and are unable to work.
Advocates have called on the RSF to reconsider its management of the center and to restore free access to prosthetics for civilians in need.