The only remaining public hospital in North Darfur, Sudan, is on the brink of shutting down as the country’s brutal civil war continues to escalate. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) issued a dire warning on Wednesday, highlighting the devastating impact of ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since the conflict began in April last year, it has claimed the lives of over 18,000 people and left more than 33,000 injured.
The Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, is the last hope for many in the war-torn region. Supported by MSF, it’s the only public hospital still able to treat the wounded and perform surgeries. But the hospital itself has not been spared from the violence. In the last week alone, relentless bombardments have caused extensive damage to the facility, making it barely operational.
At least 15 people were killed and more than 130 others were injured in these recent attacks. On Sunday, the hospital’s surgical ward was directly hit, killing a patient’s caregiver and injuring five others. MSF’s emergency operations head, Michel Olivier Lacharité, expressed deep concern, stating, “Sunday’s attack on Saudi Hospital – the largest hospital in North Darfur – makes it crystal clear that the warring parties are making no efforts to protect health facilities or the civilians inside them. Patients fear for their lives as a result of the relentless attacks.”
As the fighting around El Fasher intensifies, more and more people are fleeing to the Zamzam camp for displaced persons, located near the city. However, the camp itself has not escaped the violence, having been shelled just a week ago. The MSF field hospital at Zamzam is now under immense pressure, struggling to cope with the continuous influx of casualties.
The situation in Sudan has become particularly dire for children. UNICEF, the United Nations’ agency for children, has declared Sudan’s humanitarian crisis the largest in the world for children, by numbers. The agency warns that “tens of thousands” of children are at risk of dying if immediate action isn’t taken.
James Elder, a UNICEF spokesperson, painted a grim picture at a recent press briefing. “Thousands of children have been killed or injured in Sudan’s war. Sexual violence and recruitment are increasing. And the situation is even worse where an ongoing humanitarian presence remains denied,” he said.
The war has forced five million children to flee their homes, making Sudan the epicenter of the world’s largest child displacement crisis. As famine starts to grip the Zamzam camp, children are dying at an alarming rate. Elder warned that this month’s determination of famine in one part of Sudan could spread, leading to a catastrophic loss of young lives.
The situation is urgent, and the international community is being called upon to respond swiftly. As the war rages on with no end in sight, the fate of Sudan’s children and the last functioning hospital in North Darfur hang in the balance. Without immediate intervention, the consequences could be devastating.
Source: Ghana Web
