African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
(06 July 2023) African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) is deeply concerned about the violence against and obstruction of health care sector as the armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifies in Darfur region. At least nine government hospitals are completely shut down and seven medical facilities have been looted, and several medical equipment destroyed. For example, Tawilla hospital in North Darfur was looted and the Ambulance was destroyed. Additionally, there is a serious shortage of medical staff as a number of them have fled the region following several incidents of killings, abductions and arbitrary arrests of medical personnel. In this release, ACJPS has documented the state of health sector in different states in the Darfur region since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan on 15th April, 2023.
West Darfur State
Since 29th April, 2023 five medical facilities in Elgenina have completely shut down including Elginina Hospital, Shakreen, Alrahmah Alsultan and Alburhan hospitals.
On 28th June, 2023 a group of 14 Armed Arabs driving in land cruiser vehicles abducted Dr. Abdul Rahman Abdeen, a medical doctor from Alemtidad neighborhood in Elgenina, West Darfur and he was taken to an unknown location.
South Darfur State
In Nyala city, five medical centers including Nyala hospital have completely closed. Nyala hospital had been partially functional since the outbreak of the armed conflict between SAF and RSF before totally shutting down in June 2023 following the exodus of medical Staff. SAF soldiers are often sighted in the hospital from time to time despite it being non-operational.
The other medical institutions that shut down in Nyala include; Elshekh Musa hospital, Yashfeen, Altdamoon medical Center and Alsad Alali medical Center which is currently occupied by RSF. As of 4 July 2023, South Darfur medical sector ran out of Diabetes medicines.
East Darfur State
Although the medical facilities in East Darfur State are open, there are hardly any medical personnel to attend to patients as several of them have fled the state. The facilities are also facing a problem of inadequate supplies.
North Darfur State
With Central and North Darfur being under the control of RSF and the SAF based in Kutom and Tawilla, this has affected the medical sector. Medical facilities in Tawilla and Kutom are completely shut down whereas in Elfashir the local authorities made efforts to support the running of Elfashir Women Hospital. Agra and Pulse of Life private hospitals are also shutdown as both are located in areas of gun fore exchange.
The ambulance attached to Tawilla hospital was destroyed hindering at least 20 people who had sustained injuries from accessing the hospital. The victims were moved to Medicine Sans Frontiers Centre in Fanga area where they received medical attention. Fourteen of them were later discharge while the other six are still receiving medical care. On 18 June 2023, at around 07:00pm, Military Intelligence in Elfashir arrested Dr. Burhan Ibrahim Ali in front of Elfashir Northern hospital.
Central Darfur State
Zalingi hospital in Central Darfur State was partially operating despites being air bombed by SAF during a gunfire exchange with RSF. On 26 June 2023, it was completely shut down after it was looted by armed Arab militias.
This violent campaign of intimidation against the medical community and their interference in the provision of vital medical assistance to wounded civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law by SAF and RSF. We strongly urge SAF and RSF to end attacks on the provision of medical services and guarantee unhindered access to medical services for all. ACJPS further calls on the SAF and RSF to cease the arbitrary detention of medical professionals, remove all their officers from the hospital facilities and allow free access to health facilities by the wounded and sick, and allow medical staff to treat patients without interference by their officers.
Background
Sudan’s health system has been deteriorating since the outbreak of armed conflict in mid-April 2023. More than 70 percent of hospitals in Sudan have shut down due to the clashes in several states across Sudan including in Darfur region. Several hospitals have been bombed and others forcibly evacuated and occupied by either SAF or RSF. The remaining functioning hospitals are faced with a shortage of medical supplies and personnel while the number of victims continues to rise. The current conditions have made it difficult for humanitarian organizations to provide support to the victims.
Darfur region has been buttered by violence for years and the residents had slowly started settling. Unfortnately, their worst fears were revived by the recent armed conflict that has taken an intercommunal dimension. The clashes between Arab and non-Arab tribes resulted into the looting and destruction of property including schools and hospitals. Several hospitals have since shut down and patients have to walk long distances through hurdles to access medical care for partially open and struggling medical facilities.
