Sudan, exceptional influx of patients in El Fasher hospital, patients are treated on the floor, lack of beds

ROME – Due to the intense fighting between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the teams of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) received 279 wounded in the hospital supported by the organization in El Fasher, North Darfur (South Hospital). Here is the testimony of Cyrus Paye, coordinator of MSF projects in El Fasher. “There is currently heavy fighting in El Fasher in North Darfur and as I write this I keep hearing the sound of gunfire. Of the 279 wounded admitted to the hospital, 44 died. The situation is catastrophic, most of the wounded are civilians hit by stray bullets and many are children. They have fractures, gunshot wounds or shrapnel in their legs, abdomen or chest – Cyrus Paye said – many need blood transfusions. We had to treat a lot of patients on the floor in the corridors, because there aren’t enough beds for such a large number of injured people.”

Hospitals closed: too close to the fighting. Until last weekend, South Hospital did not have enough surgical capacity because it was a mother and child hospital which we started supporting last year to reduce the high maternal mortality rate in the region. When the fighting started, we had to convert the hospital to be able to treat the wounded. All the other hospitals in the city had to close because they were too close to the fighting or because staff were unable to reach them due to the intensity of the conflict. Surgeons from these medical facilities are now at South Hospital and have performed a variety of surgeries, but supplies of medical supplies are rapidly running out.

All salocations blocked. “Last Tuesday – the PSF coordinator said again – during a lull in the fighting, we managed to supply the hospital, but if we fail to ensure adequate medical supplies in Darfur, and if we continue to receive such a large number of wounded, we will only be able to count on medical supplies for another three weeks.Currently, in Sudan, travel has been totally blocked – added Cyrus Paye – since the fighting began, all the country’s airports have been closed and there are clashes in the streets, of as a result we can no longer bring supplies into North Darfur or other parts of the country Chad has closed its borders, therefore, if the situation does not change and if humanitarian access is not facilitated, the loss of human lives will be even greater high.

In the maternity ward two women on each bed. At present, the two operating theaters we have set up are unable to cope with the uninterrupted influx of trauma patients and obstetric and gynecological emergencies. In the maternity ward, there are currently two women per bed. Previously, an adjacent hospital performed all emergency caesarean sections – usually about three to five a day – and more than 30 regular deliveries a day. Now, all of these deliveries take place at South Hospital, while the trauma surgeons are in the operating room.

The children’s hospital was looted. Last night the Children’s Hospital where we transferred the babies was completely ransacked and now we have nowhere to admit babies with sepsis or premature babies. There are no incubators in South Hospital and it will be difficult for these babies to survive. The team is working non-stop around the clock. We are considering bringing supplies and experienced trauma surgeons into the country to provide support when the situation permits, but – as is the case with medical supplies – this is currently impossible. “It is essential for us – said the MSF coordinator – to be able to have access to all the health facilities in the country, because this can make a difference and allow us to save people’s lives. The health facilities are running out of supplies and the staff cannot to work. Health workers, humanitarian workers and first responders are all blocked by the fighting and as a result people continue to die. Access to patients and respect for civilians by the actors involved in the conflict will change the situation”.