Sudan: End the ban on lifesaving surgical supplies | Doctors Without Borders

“There are MSF supplies and staff ready and waiting in Wad Madani, less than 200 kilometers [about 124 miles] from Khartoum,” Nicolet said. “The Sudanese Armed Forces are actively blocking the delivery of medical care for the population of Sudan’s capital. Although many departments of the Sudanese government, international organizations, and diplomatic missions involved in the Sudanese crisis have been informed of the ban, they are yet to do anything about it. This is a heartless decision to leave women in labor to suffer—and for some, to die—as a side effect of the inhumane policy to make wounded combatants bleed to death. It is gruesome and must be reversed.” 

Following two mass casualty incidents on November 12 and 13, MSF received 128 wounded people in the emergency room of the Turkish Hospital. Several surgeries have already been performed, and many patients are still waiting to go into the operating theater. As a result, there are now not enough supplies left in the hospital to last for even a month. 

If MSF is not able to bring in more supplies, the operating theater in the Turkish Hospital will have to close its doors and there is no doubt that the death toll of this war will rise further, as women, children, and men in need of lifesaving surgery will be unable to receive treatment.

MSF’s work in Sudan

MSF has worked in Sudan since 1979. We currently work in 10 states in Sudan, including Khartoum city and state, Al-Jazeera, White Nile, Blue Nile, River Nile, Al Gedaref, West Darfur, North Darfur, Central Darfur, and South Darfur states. 

MSF teams in Sudan are treating people injured in the fighting, including blast injuries and gunshot wounds; treating people for communicable and non-communicable diseases; providing maternal and pediatric care; running mobile clinics in sites where people are displaced and in hospitals inside refugee camps; providing water and sanitation support; and supporting health care facilities through donations, training, and logistical support. MSF is also continuing the majority of its activities that were in place before the start of the conflict. 

MSF Sudan’s emergency response operates with a budget of € 76 million [about $82.5 million USD] for 2023, with a team of 1,145 Sudanese staff and 57 international staff based in Sudan. MSF is also providing financial support to 1,358 Ministry of Health staff.