The prolonged conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the country’s healthcare sector, pushing it to the brink of collapse. What began as a political power struggle between Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo’s RSF in April 2023 has spiraled into an unrelenting civil war. More than a year and a half later, the country is suffering from an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with the healthcare system crippled by targeted bombings, a shortage of medical supplies, and an alarming number of casualties. Amid the chaos, medical professionals continue to risk their lives to provide care, but the situation is quickly becoming untenable.
A Dire State of Affairs
In Khartoum and surrounding areas, hospitals are increasingly becoming battlegrounds. Al-Nao Hospital, one of the last functioning medical facilities in Omdurman, remains operational despite repeated attacks and nearby airstrikes. Dr. Mohamed Musa, a general practitioner at Al-Nao, described the grim reality faced by healthcare workers. “We have no choice but to carry on, even as we hear gunfire in the distance and feel planes roar overhead, shaking the ground beneath us. The bombings and air strikes have numbed us.” This stoic endurance is shared by countless medical personnel across Sudan, many of whom are treating horrific injuries in near-impossible conditions.
The medical staff at Al-Nao treat a wide range of devastating injuries—gunshot wounds, burns, shattered bones, and amputations, with the youngest victims often being infants and children. The severity of the conflict is reflected in the casualties. One of the youngest patients in the hospital was just four months old. The fighting has left Sudanese hospitals overwhelmed and understaffed, with many struggling to provide the basic care needed for survival. Reports from the Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate indicate that up to 90% of medical facilities in conflict zones have either closed or are operating at minimal capacity, leaving millions of people without access to essential medical services.
A Legacy of Targeted Violence
The brutality of the ongoing conflict is most evident in the systematic targeting of healthcare facilities. Between mid-April 2023 and August 2024, Khartoum state witnessed the destruction of nearly half its 87 hospitals. According to data from Yale University and the Sudanese American Medical Association, more than 119 attacks were recorded on health facilities in October 2024 alone. These attacks included bombings, artillery strikes, looting, and forced intrusions. The United Nations and humanitarian groups, such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), have condemned the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, highlighting that these assaults are a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.
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The RSF, in particular, has been accused of invading hospitals not only to seek treatment for its own fighters but also to exact revenge on medical staff. At least 78 healthcare workers have been killed since the conflict intensified, with many doctors facing violent reprisals after treating RSF casualties. “Both sides believe that medical staff are collaborating with opposing factions,” explained Sayed Mohamed Abdallah, a spokesman for the Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate. “This leaves them increasingly vulnerable to targeted violence.” In response to these dangers, MSF was forced to suspend operations at Bashayer Hospital in November 2024 after armed men stormed the facility.
The Humanitarian Crisis
As the conflict rages on, the healthcare crisis is compounded by a catastrophic famine and widespread food insecurity. According to the United Nations, around 26 million Sudanese are facing extreme hunger, exacerbating the suffering of those already injured by the war. Medical staff at Omdurman children’s hospital, for example, report treating up to 40 critically ill children daily, with many succumbing to illness due to a lack of essential medications. Dr. Noura Idris, a pediatrician at the hospital, shared a heartbreaking reality: “Every day, three or four children die because their condition is hopeless.” The lack of adequate resources has made even the most basic medical care unattainable for the majority of Sudanese civilians.
The situation has drawn the attention of international humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Adnan Hazam, a spokesman for the ICRC in Sudan, warned that without immediate assistance, the health sector could face a rapid deterioration. While international law explicitly protects healthcare workers and facilities during armed conflict, these protections have been rendered meaningless by the relentless violence and disregard for civilian life.
Empty Promises and Unfulfilled Aid
The international community, including the United States, has attempted to address the humanitarian crisis. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to announce additional funding for Sudanese humanitarian aid and civil society support at the United Nations. Despite these efforts, the situation remains dire. The war continues to rage with no clear path to peace or reconciliation. The recent U.S.-mediated talks in Geneva failed to make significant progress, as Sudan’s military leaders refused to participate in ceasefire discussions.
The failure of diplomatic efforts has led to growing frustration among humanitarian organizations, who are increasingly concerned that Sudan may become a “forgotten conflict” on the global stage. “We are going to leave nothing on the field in our efforts to work with allies, with partners, and with Sudanese stakeholders to address the issues that matter most—humanitarian access, the provision of humanitarian assistance, and ultimately, the cessation of hostilities,” said Ned Price, the U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations.
The Cost of War on Sudan’s Healthcare System
As Sudan’s war grinds on, its people continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. The country’s healthcare workers, already stretched to their limits, remain the unsung heroes, tending to the wounded and the dying amidst gunfire and airstrikes. Yet, without international intervention and a serious commitment to ending the conflict, the situation will only worsen. The toll on Sudan’s healthcare system is staggering, and the international community must act decisively to prevent further destruction and loss of life. The future of Sudan’s people hinges on the restoration of peace, the protection of medical facilities, and the provision of essential humanitarian aid. The world cannot afford to let Sudan become another forgotten crisis.