WHO believes the number of attacks is likely much higher
24 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – By mid-September, the number of verified attacks on health care facilities in Sudan had reached 106 since the onset of the armed conflict in April 2023.
The actual number is likely to be much higher. Ongoing – and, in some areas, worsening –violence hinders WHO’s ability to independently verify attacks and casualties.
Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy underlined how difficult it is to assess the true scale of the impact of attacks on health care.
“For each attack there is a human cost borne by the entire community,” she said.
“In times of extreme violence, as we are unfortunately witnessing in Sudan, it becomes even more crucial to have a functional health system. But instead, we not only see facilities but also health workers – the caregivers to the most vulnerable in society – targeted, despite their inspirational commitment to serve.”
Of the 106 verified attacks, over 70 have involved health facilities, and 42 impacted health personnel. In addition to these, attacks have been reported on transport, including ambulances, and on medical supplies and warehouses. In 29 of these incidents, patients were directly impacted. The worst affected areas are the states of Khartoum, Darfur and South Kordofan.
A nurse* working at a primary health care centre in Darfur described what happened when the facility at which she worked came under attack.
“After the attack on our facility we lost access to crucial medical supplies and equipment, including medicines for children, nutrition supplies and HIV and tuberculosis treatments. While the safety of staff is our primary concern, we are determined to find ways to resume operations and serve those in need.”
Attacks on health facilities have had a devastating impact on Sudan, a country engulfed by violence and which, with over 13 million civilians forcibly displaced within the country and outside its borders, is experiencing the largest human displacement in the world.
Countless numbers of people suffer from war injuries, extreme hunger, debilitating mental health stress, rising disease outbreaks and inadequate treatment and medical supplies for noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart and kidney disease.
Before the current crisis, Sudan had 6500 primary health care facilities and 300 public hospitals. WHO estimates that between 70% and 80% of health facilities in the areas worst affected by conflict, including Al Jazirah, Kordofan, Darfur and Khartoum, and 45% of health facilities in other parts of the country are barely operational or closed, impacting millions of people already living through one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.
International humanitarian law grants medical facilities and health workers special protections in times of conflict to ensure the delivery of life-saving care to civilians and safeguard the health infrastructure vital for community survival.
A pediatrician* at a hospital in Khartoum said health workers have never felt so unsafe. “We live in constant fear, not knowing when the next attack might happen. We are doing our best to continue serving the community but the challenges are immense.”
WHO calls on all parties to the conflict in Sudan to respect and protect health care. Attacks on health hurt the most vulnerable, are self-defeating, and represent a disturbing violation of international humanitarian law.
*Names have been withheld to protect identity
