News Alert: Sudan is Running Out of Medicine and Health Facilities as Truce Fails to Hold
As violence in Sudan continues for a third week despite multiple failed truce agreements, the Sudanese health system is nearly destroyed. Health facilities have been targeted, and 70% of hospitals in the conflict zones are non-functional. Border closures have also prevented the delivery of medical supplies and medicines to conflicted-affected areas to treat civilians.
The conflict has created impossible conditions for civilians and health workers with no relief in sight. Most humanitarian relief efforts have paused and only a small percentage of hospitals in affected areas are operating at full capacity with many only providing emergency services to wounded civilians.
Project HOPE is currently supporting local partners in Sudan including Nada Elazhar for Disaster Prevention and Sustainable Development (NADA) and is readying medicine and supplies to deploy to affected communities.
Rabih Torbay, President and CEO of Project HOPE, said:
“We have partners on the ground assessing the destruction of health facilities and their reports are hard to fathom. The state of the health system in Sudan is disastrous and worsening by the day. Nonstop violence has made it incredibly difficult to deliver medicine or medical supplies to conflict zones.
Hospitals are running out of oxygen, blood supply, and lifesaving drugs by the hour and health workers are working beyond the point of exhaustion. Health workers across the country have faced compounding crises over recent years and now, they must go to work while fearing for their lives and the safety of their families as health centers and civilians continue to be targeted. Without access to critical health services, more and more people in Sudan are left to die.
We desperately need the truce to hold in order to deliver lifesaving humanitarian assistance including medical supplies. Without safe entry points into conflict-affected areas, the delivery of medical supplies and medicine will be further delayed.”
Even before the conflict, Sudan has been home to a dire humanitarian situation. The country’s fragile health system – including a lack of skilled health workers and inconsistent health access across rural areas – has contributed to high child and maternal mortality rates and deaths from outbreaks of communicable diseases. Project HOPE has supported over 1,200 health workers and 14,000 community members across Sudan since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through its mental health and COVID-19 response training and will continue to partner with local organizations to support health workers.
Rabih Torbay and other Project HOPE humanitarian response experts are available for interview upon request. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact media@ProjectHOPE.org.
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About Project HOPE
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE is a leading global health and humanitarian organization operating in more than 25 countries around the world. We work side-by-side with local health systems to save lives and improve health. Our mission is at the epicenter of today’s greatest health challenges, including infectious and chronic diseases, disasters and health crises, maternal, neonatal and child health and the policies that impact how health care is delivered. For more information on Project HOPE and its work around the world, visit www.ProjectHOPE.org and follow us on Twitter @ProjectHOPEorg.