2023-07-22 05:08:52
Increasing Violence Against Health Workers Threatens Hospitals in Sudan, Doctors Without Borders Says
Increasing violence against health workers in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, is posing a serious threat to the few remaining hospitals in the area, warned Doctors Without Borders. The organization reported that its staff were beaten and flogged by armed men on Thursday, prompting concerns about the safety of medical professionals and the ongoing provision of medical care.
According to The Guardian, the MSF team came under attack just 700 meters from the Turkish hospital, one of only two hospitals still operational in southern Khartoum. Many other medical facilities have been forced to close due to the nearly 100 days of fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Doctors Without Borders expressed doubts about its ability to maintain its presence in the hospital, given the risks faced by its staff. The organization has been providing crucial support, including performing surgeries and treating chronic diseases, while also attending to approximately 15 people injured in the fighting each day.
Christophe Garnier, MSF Emergency Director in Sudan, emphasized the need to protect the lives of the healthcare workers on the frontlines. Garnier stated, “It is unfortunate that our presence in the Turkish hospital will soon become untenable if an incident like this happens again, and if our ability to transport supplies continues to be hampered.” This underscores the urgency of addressing the escalating violence against health workers.
The incident on Thursday involved a group of armed men who attacked four MSF staff members while they were delivering medical supplies to the hospital. The attackers reportedly questioned MSF’s presence in the city before physically assaulting the team.
In a report by Insecurity Insight, which tracks attacks on health systems in conflict, at least nine attacks on healthcare workers or hospitals in Sudan were documented between June 28 and July 11. The report also highlighted the deaths of at least eight healthcare workers during this period, as well as the looting and burning of medical facilities.
ACAPS, an organization that monitors humanitarian crises, drew attention to the situation in West Darfur, where the RSF has been responsible for violence. Medical facilities have been closed, and the supply of medicine, which usually comes from Khartoum, has been severely restricted.
Additionally, the Sudanese Ministry of Health reported that a military hospital in Omdurman, adjacent to Khartoum, was hit by a drone strike attributed to the Rapid Support Forces. The attack resulted in the deaths of four civilians and left four others injured.
Amidst these escalating attacks on health workers and hospitals, Sudan is grappling with severe poverty, with over half of its population now in need of assistance. The threat of famine looms large, and over two-thirds of the country’s hospitals remain out of service. Urgent action is required to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and to guarantee access to healthcare for the vulnerable population in Sudan.]
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