Khartoum, Sudan- (African Boulevard News) – Sudan continues to experience unrest and violence as fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) persists. Since April 15, more than 420 deaths have been recorded, and over 3,700 injuries, while approximately 100,000 Sudanese have fled their homes. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that healthcare in the country is on the verge of collapse, with many hospitals working with limited capabilities and medical supplies running low, leaving patients with chronic diseases especially vulnerable.
Displacement
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), about 100,000 Sudanese have fled their homes since the violence broke out, leaving behind their livelihoods and possessions. The IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix revealed that approximately 4,000 people have left Khartoum, while another 4,000 have been displaced in Northern State. In El Obeid, capital of North Kordofan, about 8,000 people have been displaced, while 17,000 fled their homes in El Fasher and Tawila in North Darfur. South Darfur has seen the highest number of displaced people, with about 37,000 fleeing from Nyala.
Healthcare collapse
The Sudanese health system is on the brink of collapse, with many hospitals overwhelmed and unable to cope with the sheer number of casualties. The stock of medical supplies is running low, leaving patients with chronic diseases and injuries especially vulnerable. The Sudan Doctors Syndicate has reported that 11 doctors and medical students have been killed during the conflict, exacerbating the already dire situation.
Doctor Atia Abdallah of the Sudan Doctors Syndicate has also expressed fears of a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe, as a result of the growing number of corpses in morgues and on the streets. Relatives of the victims have been unable to reach the morgues, and many are unable to locate the bodies of their loved ones. He has demanded that the bodies not be buried without an autopsy in the presence of official authorities.
Disaster response team
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a disaster response team to Sudan to coordinate humanitarian response for the Sudanese. The team will operate out of Kenya for the initial phase of the response, USAID head Samantha Power announced in a press statement yesterday. She called on the warring Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces to abide by the three-day Eid El Fitr ceasefire to which they have agreed, to end the bloodshed and facilitate humanitarian access for those in need.
“Our disaster experts are working with the international community and our international partners to identify priority needs and to safely deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to those who need it most,” Power added. The situation is catastrophic, and she pleaded with the international community to put pressure on both sides to stop the war so that the wounded can be treated, and the corpses removed from the streets.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also issued a statement, saying that a quarter of the dead in Sudan could have been saved if (para)medics had been able to reach the injured. The situation is grim, and the international community must come together to provide much-needed aid to the Sudanese people.
