Sudan, West Darfur: a hospital looted, houses destroyed or set on fire, including the central market and IDP camps

ROME – The Sudanese expect more bloodshed, despite the umpteenth announcement of a “ceasefire”. The internal conflict enters its third week, while civilian victims now number in the hundreds. The fighting has concentrated on the capital Khartoum and Darfur: therefore the people fleeing are increasing and the evacuations of US citizens from the United Kingdom and Russians continue, over 200 embarked yesterday alone. Also yesterday, the United Nations warned that the conflict in Sudan it could force 800,000 people to flee the country, while battles between rival military factions continued in the capital, despite an alleged ceasefire. Since last April 15, when the civil war flared up – after having simmered for some time, even before the fall of Bashir – hundreds of people have been killed and thousands have been injured in the bloody clash between the Sudanese army and the rapid support paramilitaries.

A humanitarian disaster. Which has involved and damaged above all the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and risks bringing regional powers into play and rekindling the conflict in Darfur, as in fact has punctually happened. Many fear for their lives in the struggle for power between the army chief and the head of the paramilitary rapid intervention forces (RSF), who have always had a difficult coexistence within the same hierarchical structure, not counting the enormous economic interests that are at stake for the very rich financial resources in the hands of the military: more than 80% of the total public wealth is in fact attributable above all to the RSF or directly to Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (called Hemeti) head of the paramilitary armed departments. Who does not at all like assimilation into the official Sudanese army (SAF), if not gradually, over 10 years. Finally, it is always worth remembering that, in all of this, according to the Sudan Household Health Survey1/3 of the Sudanese population lives below the poverty line (less than 2 dollars a day) and 25% live in extreme poverty.

The spark of the fight. The spark that ignited the clash is linked to the enormous economic interests of the two military factions and to the geopolitical fibrillations of some regional powers (Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad) interested in the future diversion of the Nile caused by the construction of the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance dam (Gerd ) on the Blue Nile. The Ethiopian government, in fact, continues with its construction for essentially energy reasons, despite the opposition of Egypt and Sudan, which see their availability of fresh water drop precisely because of the gigantic infrastructure.

Fleeing migratory flows. The population of Sudan is about 46 million inhabitants. About 73,000 have already left the country. About 40,000 arrived in Egypt alone, after a journey – some witnesses said – in very difficult conditions. Others went to Chad, South Sudan and Ethiopia, or sailed across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, in very precarious boats. At least 528 people were killed and 4,599 injured, the Sudanese health ministry said. The United Nations has reported a similar number of deaths, but believes the real toll is much higher.

The looted hospital. Meanwhile, in Sudan, West Darfur state, El Geneina hospital, supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the main health facility in the area was looted after a violent raid occurred in the last two days. Looting and destruction continue in the Sudanese city, houses and properties are set on fire, including the central market, the IDP camps and the places where people fleeing the conflict gather.

Testimony from the field. “It is totally unacceptable to see El Geneina hospital and other facilities under attack, looted, short of staff and supplies,” said Sylvain Perron, MSF’s deputy head of operations for Sudan. of our teams in West Darfur. People are surrounded by constant violence, fearing for their safety and their lives as they try to reach the few health facilities that are still functioning and open”. For years, MSF has been providing medical assistance to all communities in West Darfur, often affected by acts of extreme brutality and which otherwise would not have access to essential care. In the university hospital of El Geneina, MSF managed the pediatric and nutrition wards and was responsible for infection prevention measures and water and sanitation services. Over the years, there has been a steady flow of patients not only from the town of El Geneina and the nearest IDP camps, but from all over the state of West Darfur.

The conflict has forced the interruption of activities. The ongoing fighting has forced us to halt most of our activities in West Darfur. MSF teams have not been able to reach the hospital, nor have they been able to carry out mobile clinic activities in the communities of Galala, Mogshasha, Wadi Rati and Gelchek. So far you have only managed to guarantee medical assistance at the Kreinik hospital, but there are fewer and fewer patients coming from areas outside the city. The impact of this violence on people who have already lived in previous years in a climate of often brutal violence and had limited access to medical care, which they desperately needed, is therefore very severe. However, MSF staff in West Darfur are following the situation closely and are ready to scale up the response to meet the enormous needs that are emerging. “To do so, however – underlined Sylvain Perron – the safety of all our staff and our patients must be guaranteed”.