WHO believes the number of attacks is likely much higher than what is currently verifiable
Cairo, September 24, 2024 – The number of attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan since the onset of the armed conflict in April 2023 has exceeded 100, with 108 incidents verified by WHO until mid-September.
WHO believes that the number of attacks is likely much higher than what is currently verifiable. The ongoing—and, in some areas, worsening—violence hinders our ability to independently verify both attacks and casualties.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasised how difficult it is to ascertain the true scale of the impact on healthcare. “For each attack, there is a human cost that is borne by the entire community,” she said.
“In times of extreme violence, as we are unfortunately witnessing in Sudan today, 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,” Dr Balkhy added.
Of the more than 100 verified attacks, over 75 have involved health facilities, and 45 have impacted health personnel. In addition to these, attacks have been reported on transport, including ambulances, medical supplies, and warehouses. In 29 of these incidents, patients were directly impacted. The worst affected have been the states of Khartoum, Darfur, and South Kordofan.
A nurse* working at a primary healthcare center in Darfur described the challenges faced after the facility where she was working at 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 treatment,” she said. “While the safety of our staff is our primary concern, we are determined to find ways to resume operations and serve those in need.”
The attacks on health facilities in Sudan have had a devastating impact on a country engulfed by violence. Civilians are experiencing the largest human displacement in the world with over 13 million people forcibly displaced both within the country and outside its borders. Countless people suffer from war injuries, extreme hunger, debilitating mental health stress, rising disease outbreaks and inadequate treatment or medical supplies for non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart and kidney disease.
Prior to the current crisis, Sudan had an estimated 6,500 primary healthcare facilities and 300 public hospitals across the country. WHO estimates that 70 – 80% of health facilities in areas worst affected by conflict, such as Al Jazirah, Kordofan, Darfur and Khartoum, and about 45% in other parts of the country, are now barely operational or closed, impacting millions of people living through one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.
Under international humanitarian law, medical facilities and health workers are granted special protection in times of conflict, to ensure the delivery of life-saving care to civilians and to safeguard the health infrastructure vital to 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.”
As always, WHO calls for 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 one of the most disturbing violations of international humanitarian law.
*Names have been removed to protect identity
