Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is urging the international community to step up aid efforts in Sudan, where a brutal 15-month conflict has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis.
MSF President Christos Christou emphasized the critical need for increased support, highlighting the alarming number of civilian casualties. “Nearly one-third of those wounded in the fighting are women or children under 10,” Christou said, underlining the war’s indiscriminate impact.
The conflict erupted in April 2023 between Burhan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UN has labeled it “one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory.” Many aid organizations initially retreated due to the violence, halting crucial operations.
“We understand the initial caution,” Christou stated, “but with famine looming and the war dragging on, other organizations, especially UN agencies, need to return and significantly increase their efforts.”
Funding shortages further impede relief efforts. Chronic underfunding, which UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths called “shameful,” poses a major challenge.
Sudanese medical personnel, who often find themselves targeted by both sides, feel abandoned.
Humanitarian workers report extreme difficulty operating, facing threats, harassment, and even attacks on medical facilities.
MSF alone has documented at least nine attacks on their facilities in El-Fasher since May.
The war has destroyed hospitals and medical supplies, leaving many with nowhere to turn for treatment.
MSF emphasizes the sanctity of medical facilities. “Hospitals are places of refuge,” Christou stated, “patients and medical staff must be protected.”
The true death toll remains unknown, likely far exceeding official estimates. Many cannot reach medical care due to the fighting, concentrated in urban areas. MSF hospitals, often the only functioning facilities, are overwhelmed, with a disproportionate number of women and children suffering war injuries.
With the war showing no signs of abating, the international community faces a critical juncture. Increased aid and protection for medical personnel are desperately needed to prevent further catastrophe in Sudan.