Clashes in Sudan have caused the closure of more than half of the hospitals in the capital, as well as those in outlying regions, while the rest are at risk of closure due to a lack of medical personnel and basic supplies.
“Of the 59 hospital establishments in the capital and areas surrounding the areas where the fighting takes place, there are 39 [hospitais] out of order,” the Sudanese Doctors Union said today.
Among the hospitals that stopped providing services, nine were bombed and 16 were evacuated, the union said without referring to the perpetrators of the attacks.
Right now, 20 hospitals are fully or partially operating, most of which only provide first aid.
Even these “are threatened with closure due to lack of doctors, supplies, medical supplies, water and electricity,” said the same union source, adding that at least five ambulances were attacked “by military forces.”
Other ambulances were prevented from moving, even when they were transporting patients or medical supplies to hospitals.
On Tuesday night, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement that “reports of military attacks on health facilities, hijacking of ambulances with patients and doctors on board, looting of health facilities and occupation of hospitals by military forces are deeply concerning. “
The WHO urged the parties to the conflict to ensure safe access for patients, medical personnel and ambulances to hospitals,
“Patients need access to health services not only to treat injuries but also for essential and vital services,” the WHO said.
The World Health Organization recalled that “safety and health care must always be protected, especially in conflict situations, when access to life-saving services is even more important.”
This Tuesday, the organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced the assault on the Nyala facilities, in Darfur, in western Sudan, by “armed men who stole everything” by looting a warehouse that kept medical supplies.
According to the United Nations, a third of Sudanese – around 16 million people – were already in need of emergency humanitarian aid at the beginning of the year, with 3.7 million of them internally displaced.
At least 270 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured in clashes between the Sudan Army and Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries, according to WHO data.
Source: TSF
