Sudan

Targeting of healthcare and aid leading to collapse of healthcare system, disease outbreak, and famine

As night falls over Sudan, the distant echoes of gunfire resonate through the air, hauntingly punctuated by the cries of the vulnerable. In the heart of this chaos lies a somber reality: the nation’s healthcare system, once a lifeline for millions, is in deadly disarray. With over 10 million people displaced and the death toll reaching hundreds of thousands since conflict reignited in April 2023, the humanitarian catastrophe has few comparables. Attacks on healthcare workers, facilities, and patients underscore the brutality of ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 70% of healthcare facilities in conflict zones have ceased operation, exacerbating a dire situation where diseases like cholera loom large. Dr. Laila Abdurrahman, a humanitarian aid worker, notes, “The systematic targeting of medical professionals and facilities is not just a violation of rights; it’s an assault on humanity itself.” With extreme shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel, more than half the population faces acute food insecurity, particularly in marginalized regions like Darfur.

• Collapse of healthcare system fueling disease outbreaks
• More than half the population facing acute food insecurity
• International aid obstructed by political and military blockades

Attacks on hospitals, targeting of health professionals

The pattern of violence against healthcare in Sudan has been strikingly evident. On June 3, 2019, the RSF and allied paramilitaries brutally stormed peaceful protests, leaving physicians vulnerable to extrajudicial killings. Such attacks culminated in instances like those at Almoalim and Royal Care hospitals, where security forces pursued and attacked injured protesters within hospital walls.

The ongoing assaults echo an earlier crisis in January 2019, when Omdurman Hospital became a battlefield, with security forces opening fire on patients and medical staff. This blatant disregard for the sanctity of healthcare facilities contravenes the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, perpetuating a cycle of violence that demands urgent attention.

Famine and the humanitarian crisis

With aid organizations reporting rampant malnutrition and disease outbreaks in displacement camps, the urgency of the situation escalates daily. According to a recent humanitarian needs assessment conducted by the United Nations, the risk of cholera has surged with the onset of the rainy season, threatening to envelop millions not already caught in the grip of famine. Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed, an epidemiologist with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), reports, “The public health infrastructure is collapsing, and preventive measures are almost non-existent. We are facing a perfect storm.”

Physical, bureaucratic blockades, and rampant looting of aid efforts have left communities helpless, struggling not just for healthcare but for basic survival. The ongoing conflict diminishes the already scarce resources available for treatment. Dr. Amina Farouk, who has worked extensively in conflict zones, describes the scene: “I’ve seen mothers arriving with starving children—desperate and traumatized—and there’s almost nothing we can do.”

International Response and Urgency for Aid

The swift escalation in Sudan’s humanitarian crisis demands immediate and comprehensive international intervention. Aid organizations are calling for an end to hostilities and for all parties to provide unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance. A coalition of global health organizations recently published a plea stating, “The time for action is now; millions are at the brink of starvation, and the specter of disease looms larger than ever.”

In a first step, humanitarian experts advocate for:

• Immediate ceasefire to allow for unhindered delivery of aid
• Restoration of healthcare infrastructure and medical supply chains
• International pressure on both SAF and RSF to cease attacks on medical facilities

As the alarm bells grow louder, it becomes increasingly evident that without immediate and sustained international intervention, Sudan’s fragile healthcare system will continue to disintegrate, leaving in its wake a burgeoning humanitarian disaster. The need to safeguard healthcare for the beleaguered populations is no longer an obligation but an imperative for global leaders.

The echoes of gunfire persist into the night, a stark reminder that in conflict, the most vulnerable—especially those seeking care—suffer the most. As hopes for peace remain distant, the plight of Sudan’s civilian population hangs precariously in the balance, waiting to be seen and heard by the global community.

Source: www.bma.org.uk