Insight Security: Attacks on health care in Sudan April 15-19

 

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 Attacks on health care in Sudan 15-19 April 2023

 Since fighting started between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), 174 civilians have been killed and hundreds others injured. The violence has impacted health workers, hospitals, ambulances and patients. At least 13 hospitals in Khartoum have stopped functioning and those that are operating are running low on supplies and struggling with power or water cuts.

Below are the incidents Insecurity Insight has identified between 15-19 April, including armed conflict related incidents as well as political violence related incidents. The incidents reported are not a complete nor a representative list of all incidents that affected the provision of health care and have not been independently verified. Data collection is ongoing and data may change as more information is made available. If you have additional information on an incident documented here, or a new incident, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Visit our website, join our mailing list, follow us on Twitter. Help support our work by sharing this resource. Please copy and paste this link: bit.ly/15-19Apr2023SDNHealth

Documented incidents

15 April 2023: In Khartoum, a doctor was killed when a shell of unidentified origin hit her home. Sources: Personal Communication and University World News

16 April 2023: In Khartoum, a pregnant woman and her father were shot and killed by unidentified perpetrators in front of the Saad Abu El Ela Hospital. Her baby was delivered alive shortly after. Source: Personal Communication

16 April 2023: In Khartoum, attacks of unidentified origin forced the evacuation of the Police Hospital, forcing it to temporarily close. Source: Personal Communication

16 April 2023: In El Obeid city, North Kordofan state, unidentified armed individuals stormed the Al Dhaman Hospital, forcing it to temporarily close. Source: Personal Communication

As reported on 17 April 2023: In Khartoum, the Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital, the Bashayer Hospital, and the Turkish Hospital, were damaged by bombs in fighting between the SAF and RSF. The Khartoum Teaching Hospital and the Jaafar Ibnouf Children’s Hospital were forced to temporarily close. Unconfirmed reports that some health facilities are being used for non-medical purposes by conflict parties. Sources: Personal Communication I, Personal Communication II, Sudan Medical Association: Preliminary Committee and The New York Times

As reported on 17 April 2023: In Khartoum, violence has prevented ambulances from safely transporting casualties to hospitals, prompting medics to repeatedly plead for safe corridors and a ceasefire. Source: New Age

17 April 2023: In Khartoum, patients were evacuated from the Dr Salma Elredwan Dialysis Centre during fighting between the SAF and RSF. Source: Personal Communication

17 April 2023: In Khartoum, the Ibn Sina University Hospital was damaged during fighting between the SAF and RSF. Source: Personal Communication

17 April 2023: In Nyala city, South Darfur state, a hospital, clinic and an immunisation centre were looted by militia. Source: Personal Communication

Insecurity Insight – Monitoring incidents around the world affecting aid, health care, education, and protection.

17 April 2023: In El Fasher city, North Darfur state, an INGO office was looted by armed perpetrators. Two vehicles, IT equipment, food items, and medical supplies were taken. Source: Personal Communication

18 April 2023: In Nyala city, South Darfur state, the Nyala Central Hospital was unable to operate due to a lack of electricity supply and fuel for generators as a result of fighting between the SAF and RSF. Source: Personal Communication

18 April 2023: In Khartoum, the Fidel Hospital was hit by heavy weapons during fighting between the SAF and RS, damaging its central gas and water tanks. Source: Personal Communication

18 April 2023: In Nyala city, South Darfur state, the MSF compound and medical warehouse were raided by armed men who stole vehicles and office equipment. Source: MSF Sudan

As reported on 19 April 2023: In Khartoum, 13 hospitals have so far been forced to shut as a result of fighting between the SAF and RSF. Source: Personal Communication

As reported on 19 April 2023: In Nyala city, South Darfur state, a medical storage warehouse was set ablaze during fighting between SAF and RSF. Source: Personal Communication

Related resources

The SHCC identified 52 incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care in Sudan in 2021. 34 health workers were injured and/or assaulted and 22 health workers were arrested. Security forces raided hospitals at least 25 times. Factsheet available in Arabic and English

Download data on violence against or obstruction of health care in Sudan between 01 January 2016 and 29 March 2023 on HDX. Our data includes available information on who the perpetrators were and what weapons were used. Registered HDX user? Follow us for the latest dataset updates. The dataset does not yet include incidents reported in this report.

Explore our Attacked and Threatened: Health Care at Risk interactive global map to see incidents where health workers were killed, kidnapped or injured and incidents where health facilities were damaged or destroyed in Sudan since 2016. Includes details on who the perpetrators were and the weapons used.

This document comprises threats and violence as well as protests and other events affecting the delivery of and access to health care. It is part of the Attacks on Health Care project by Insecurity Insight. It is prepared from information available in local, national and international news outlets and online databases. The incidents reported are not a complete nor a representative list of all events that affected the provision of health care and have not been independently verified. All decisions made, on the basis of, or with consideration to, such information remains the responsibility of their respective organisations. This document is funded and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK government through the RIAH project at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute at the University of Manchester, the European Commission through the ‘Ending violence against healthcare in conflict’ project and through the project ‘Ending violence against healthcare in conflict: documentation, tools, and data-informed advocacy to stop and prevent attacks’ funded by the European Union. The contents are the responsibility of Insecurity Insight. Insecurity Insight. 2023. 15- 19 April 2023 Violence against or obstruction of health care in Sudan. Switzerland: Insecurity Insight. bit.ly/15-19Apr2023SDNHealth

  Insecurity Insight – Monitoring incidents around the world affecting aid, health care, education, and protection.

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