Sudan’s acting Federal Health Minister, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, revealed that the war has resulted in the death of 1,500 civilians. As the rainy season begins, the deteriorating health conditions and increasing environmental hazards are raising alarm bells in the international community.
In a recent interview with Sudan Tribune, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim announced that the Health Ministry has accounted for 1,500 civilian deaths and over 6,000 injuries as a result of the ongoing conflict. Ibrahim expressed concern that the actual numbers could be even higher due to limited hospital access amidst the fighting.
Grave Crisis in Healthcare Infrastructure
The United Nations reports that 80% of Sudan’s healthcare facilities have ceased operations due to bombings, forced evacuations, and lack of medical supplies. The already fragile health infrastructure is being pushed to the brink, leaving citizens highly vulnerable.
With corpses littering the streets of Khartoum and other cities for the past four months, the minister fears a significant decline in public health, especially as the rainy season begins. The bodies not only pose a threat for the spread of epidemics but also significantly affect the environmental conditions.
Due to the continued fighting, many have been forced to bury their loved ones in their homes or even public spaces. This grim reality complicates matters as the rainy season sets in, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
Ibrahim also warned of other environmental threats due to the autumn season in various Sudanese states. He noted recent outbreaks of waterborne diarrhea in South Kordofan and recorded more than 3,000 cases of measles in 8 different states, along with 58 deaths. Dengue fever and malaria are also becoming widespread as disease vectors multiply in the rainy season.
Efforts are underway to coordinate vaccination campaigns against measles in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and Médecins Sans Frontières. A large batch of routine vaccinations has arrived, offering a glimmer of hope in these dire circumstances.
As Sudan grapples with a complex web of health and environmental crises, international attention and intervention are urgently needed. The death toll continues to rise, and unless immediate action is taken, Sudan risks descending into an unprecedented public health catastrophe.
