Cairo (BLAZETRENDS).- The office of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean, which covers Sudan, reported today that almost 330 people have died and 3,200 have been injured as a result of clashes between the Government Sudanese and the paramilitary group of the Rapid Support Forces (FAR) since last Saturday.
“Since April 15, nearly 330 people have been killed and nearly 3,200 more injured as a result of clashes between the government and opposition armed forces in Khartoum and other states, including Darfur,” he told a conference call. virtual press the regional director of the WHO, Ahmed Al Mandhari.
sexual assaults
According to the head of the organization, “reports of sexual assaults on international humanitarian workers are also very worrying, as are reports of attacks on healthcare, including assaults on healthcare workers, military occupation of hospitals, looting and hijacking of ambulances.” ”.
Al Mandhari indicated that insecurity “restricts movement in Khartoum”, making it difficult for doctors, nurses, patients and ambulances to access health centers, and endangering the lives of those who need urgent medical attention.
As of today, according to the Ministry of Health, 20 hospitals have been forced to close due to attacks or lack of resources, and another eight health centers are at risk of closing due to tired staff or a lack of doctors. and supplies.
humanitarian pause
However, the Union of Doctors of Sudan assures that 70% of the hospitals located in Khartoum and in the states bordering the conflict are out of service: “Of the 74 hospitals in the capital and the states bordering the combat zones , 52 hospitals cannot accept patients”.
“We call on all parties to put in place a sustained humanitarian pause as soon as possible so that people trapped by the fighting can seek refuge,” Al Mandhari said.
The WHO also highlighted that “multiple disease outbreaks, including measles, poliovirus, the first-ever dengue outbreak in history in Khartoum, and the rise in malaria cases across the country,” are currently circulating in the country.
Before the current crisis, 15.8 million people in Sudan – a third of the population – were in need of humanitarian aid and now, they are seeing “a traumatic deterioration of what is already a very difficult humanitarian situation.”
Sudan is one of seven countries in the Horn of Africa affected by food insecurity and more than a quarter of the population is already facing a food crisis, according to the WHO.
