Sudan: Last hospital in El Fasher risks closure amid intense bombardment

“For more than three months, people in El Fasher have been under constant bombardment. Shelling from both sides has resulted in over 2,500 casualties who arrived at MSF-supported hospitals, and more than 370 of these patients passed away from their injuries. The number of victims of the conflict is unknown. Sunday’s attack on Saudi Hospital—which is the largest hospital in North Darfur state—makes it crystal clear that the warring parties are making no efforts to protect health facilities or the civilians inside them. Patients fear for their lives as a result of the relentless attacks.

People are moving to Zamzam to flee the fighting in El Fasher, but those already in the camp also fear for their lives—Zamzam was hit by shelling just one week ago and there are very real fears that this will happen again. We are preparing to receive more casualties in Zamzam—especially as the fighting in El Fasher means that people cannot easily reach Saudi Hospital. However, our field hospital has been built to treat children with malnutrition and pediatric diseases—it is not currently set up to treat the wounded. There is no operating theater and no blood bank, which means our team will be under exceptional pressure if casualties continue to arrive. Additionally, people in the camp are already facing life-threatening issues of their own.

MSF raised the alarm about the catastrophic malnutrition crisis in Zamzam camp over six months ago, and now the Famine Review Committee has declared a state of famine in the camp. We urge the warring parties to let humanitarian supplies pass through without being obstructed, and we also urge them to protect civilians and health structures. Saudi is the last remaining public hospital in North Darfur with the capacity to effectively treat the wounded. If it, or our facilities in Zamzam, are hit again and become non-functional, there will be nowhere left for the injured to seek care and the death toll will soar.”