UN warns of health system collapse as fighting continues in Sudan capital

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Fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues in central Khartoum and in a number of neighbourhoods in Omdurman despite a 72-hour ceasefire.

UN agencies have warned of a collapse of the health system in the country.

The World Health Organization has called on both sides of the conflict to stop fighting to allow people to get medical care and to open a humanitarian corridor for health workers.

According to reports, 16 hospitals (including nine in Khartoum) are non-functional due to attacks and another 16 hospitals in Khartoum and other states, including Darfur States, are close to being non-functional due to staff fatigue and lack of supplies.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that the fighting has killed at least nine children and injured 50 others in Khartoum, North Kordofan, and Darfur and Kordofan.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, expressed concerns about the possibility of the collapse of the entire health care system in Sudan due to the ongoing fighting, and warned of the depletion of food, fuel, and other essential supplies in the country.

Meanwhile, Sudanese women in the country and abroad are demanding an immediate end to the war.

Mohanad Hashim, a Sudanese analyst, highlighted the impact of the RSF’s tactics, saying, “The RSF modus operandi is hit and run, in a city the size of Khartoum they also play hide and seek, by setting up their units in residential areas they’ve effectively taken a large civilian population hostage exposing them to the ruthless response from the army.”