A looming health disaster in Sudan

The fighting has left 70-80 percent of the health facilities in the conflict-affected areas non-functional. Those that remain open struggle to obtain medicines and critical equipment to save lives. Health workers face daily security threats. On May 30th, the Eldaman International Hospital in Al Obeid in Kordofan was struck by a drone, killing at least six health professionals. The attack was reportedly conducted by RSF.

‘Sadly, this is just one of an unacceptably high number of attacks on health infrastructure and health workers in Sudan. I condemn all such attacks and remind the parties that humanitarian and health workers are protected under international humanitarian law‘, says Aukrust.

The people of Sudan are facing multiple crises caused by the conflict. More than 12 million have been forcibly displaced and 25 million Sudanese civilians are facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity, which increase their vulnerability to diseases.

Due to the conflict, vaccination coverage has decreased sharply in Sudan. It is now under 50 percent in the country as a whole and lower than 30 percent in conflict zones. The rainy season starts in June, which increases the risk of water-borne diseases.

Polio has recently been confirmed in Darfur and cholera has spread to the capital, where it threatens more than a million children, according to the UN. The lack of access to clean water and basic health services aggravates the situation. Vaccination is urgently needed, as is medicines and essential health supplies, which must pass unimpeded across conflict lines.

‘Infectious diseases do not respect borders. A functional health system in Sudan is urgently needed, both for the Sudanese people and to prevent the spread of diseases to the region and beyond‘, says Aukrust.