Sudan’s Crisis Deepens

It is August 2024 and two-thirds of Sudanese civilians have lost access to essential health services as most of the country's hospitals and health centres have been forced to close. Since April last year, scores of doctors and nurses have been killed or injured, and many health facilities have been damaged by shelling and air strikes.

Continued attacks on health facilities and workers have dire consequences, especially as the food crisis reaches a new, tragic peak: For the first time in seven years, the Famine Review Committee (FRC) has officially declared famine in North Darfur State. At the same time, 25.6 million Sudanese are expected to face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity - more than half the population. Of these, 755,000 people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Three out of four children now go hungry every day, as the number of children facing severe food insecurity has almost doubled in six months to a shocking 16.4 million.

Millions in Urgent Need Amid Escalating Disease Outbreaks and Violence

Health centres play a critical role in the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition, making them essential for the most vulnerable groups, including pregnant and lactating mothers and children under five. There are increasing reports of looting and vandalism of health facilities, threats and physical violence against staff and patients, and denial of health services. Civilians are dying because they cannot access timely medical care, and entire communities are being cut off from essential services such as maternity care, childcare and immunisation.

The health system in Sudan is stretched to its limits by displacement, disease outbreaks, conflict-related injuries, non-communicable diseases, and maternal and child health needs that are increasing in the face of diminishing capacity to meet these needs. 14 million people are in urgent need of health assistance. Resources and local capacity to detect and respond to outbreaks are limited, especially in hard-to-reach areas. The country is facing multiple outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, dengue, and measles.  In June 2024, at least two-thirds of the country's 18 states were experiencing three or more simultaneous outbreaks of different diseases. With the rainy season just beginning, malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sudan, accounting for about 20% of all outpatient consultations.

Medair's Lifeline: Providing Critical Health Services to Displaced Families in Blue Nile

In the midst of this dire situation, Medair's team continues to serve the most vulnerable in Blue Nile State, which has seen a significant influx of internally displaced people fleeing the conflict. The state and its people have their own history of inter-communal violence, displacement, disease outbreaks, and hunger. Accommodating the newly displaced is an overwhelming challenge for the infrastructure and the  community.

In three locations, Medair provides free health and nutrition services to mothers and children under the age of five. When we visited our team to see their amazing work, we met Kazima, a 25-year-old mother of three who has been displaced several times with her family. She is raising her children with the help of her relatives. Her first husband died young. Her second husband left her alone with the children. Her fate is representative of that of countless others in Sudan:

"I remember when fighting broke out in 2011 where I was living at the time. It was 4 in the morning when the shooting started. When we tried to flee, the gunmen had already blocked the roads. We crossed a mountain and found a place we thought was safe. We lived outside under a tree for a month. There was nothing to eat. Only the leaves of the trees kept us from starving. From there we moved to another village. But after two years, the fighting spread, and we had to flee again. Our house was burned down.

Kazima and her family found temporary safety in another village. They adapted to their new surroundings, renting a small house and garden to live in and grow crops. But just when things seemed to have settled down, the nightmare began again: Another round of conflict forced the family out of their home. Not knowing where to go, the mother decided to return to her original village, only to find her house destroyed and overgrown. "It is not possible to rebuild our old house. Until now, we have been living in a temporary shelter made of plastic sheets," said the mother.

While the family was on the run, Medair had started providing free health and nutrition services near Kazima's former home. When she returned, a community health worker came to her shelter to screen her children for malnutrition and told her about Medair's facility. It was a huge relief for the mother, who had no money to pay for medicine or treatment for her family.

"I have known this place for more than half a year. I came here today because my eight-month-old daughter Faiza has diarrhoea and a fever. I am also suffering from fever and vomiting. This is the only health facility nearby where I can go. And the services are free. It is easy for us to access without any problems. Medair helps the community around the clock as needed, even on weekends and holidays. I know that if I or my children get sick again, we can always come here for treatment.”

‍

Hope and healing to vulnerable families

The struggles faced by families like Kazima's in Blue Nile demonstrate both the incredible resilience of the Sudanese people and the urgent need for humanitarian assistance. This reality underscores the importance of organisations like Medair in providing essential services. Every day, we see firsthand how health care not only heals, but also restores hope and dignity.

Kazima's experience is a powerful reminder of the vital work Medair is doing in these remote, conflict-affected areas. In 2023, our team has seen over 36,000 patients at our health facilities in Blue Nile. The continued support of our generous donors is critical to our ability to provide life-saving care to those most in need. Together, we can bring hope and healing to Sudan's vulnerable people when they need it most.

‍

‍

Medair healthcare and nutrition services in Blue Nile, Sudan are funded by USAID and generous private donors.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.

‍

‍