The medical services sector in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, is on the brink of total collapse due to a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies.
The city is under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have been periodically bombarding the city, causing significant damage to hospitals and health centers and rendering them non-functional, thus exacerbating the suffering of patients.
A medical source in El Fasher told Radio Dabanga that the health situation in the city is dire and nearing collapse.
Most hospitals and health centers are out of service, with only five health centers and the Saudi Hospital still operational.
The source added that most of the medicines were burned in the Kidney Hospital, which was targeted by the RSF during their shelling.
The source confirmed that they are heavily reliant on medicines provided by the armed forces through air-drops.
There are no organizations bringing in medicines, and there is no stockpile of drugs. Due to the lack of medicines and the ongoing siege, there have been reports of suspected cholera symptoms in the Zamzam camp, posing a severe threat to the state and the health situation.
There is a critical shortage of intravenous solutions and life-saving medicines for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases, as well as other essentials like gauze, cotton, and medical solutions. Even pharmacies are facing a scarcity of certain medicines.
He mentioned that the Sudanese American Physicians and some organizations have provided financial support to purchase medicines and medical supplies, but the problem is that medicines are not available in pharmacies.
He urged the warring parties to cease hostilities and open the roads to enable the provision of basic services, especially with the malaria and fever season approaching as the rainy season begins, to prevent the situation from becoming even more catastrophic and dangerous.
Turkish Medical Aid for El Fasher
The Minister of Health and Social Development in Darfur, Babiker Hamden, received medical aid from the Turkish Red Crescent.
The minister revealed that the medical supplies include solutions, inputs for some surgical operations, and medical consumables.
According to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), the Turkish aid ship arrived in Port Sudan on Monday, received by the Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. Graham Abdel Qader, the Secretary-General of the Sudanese Red Crescent, the Turkish Charge d’Affaires, and several community leaders and officials.
The minister expressed his gratitude to the Turkish people, who have consistently provided aid and assistance to Sudan during disasters and wars.
Babiker noted that Turkey has continuously provided humanitarian aid through the Turkish Red Crescent to Sudan, owing to the longstanding relationship between the two brotherly peoples at the grassroots and humanitarian work levels.
He affirmed that this aid would significantly relieve the residents of North Darfur by being air-delivered in collaboration with the Sudanese Air Force.
The Sudanese military conducted an air-drop operation in El Fasher last night, despite the RSF’s anti-aircraft fire attempting to disrupt the operation.
The Sudanese Air Force has air-dropped medical supplies to El Fasher multiple times. The Federal Ministry of Health announced arrangements for further air-drops of essential and life-saving medicines in El Fasher, North Darfur, in the coming days.
