In brief
In Sudan's El-Fasher, medics continue to operate under precarious conditions, enduring bombardments and an alarming humanitarian crisis resulting from ongoing conflicts. With the last remaining hospital under siege, medical staff are providing crucial care while facing devastating losses and intense shelling.
Dr. Mustafa Ali Abdulrahman Ibo and his team of medics are amidst an unprecedented crisis in El-Fasher, where their hospital has become a sanctuary for the wounded amidst nine months of siege in Sudan's western Darfur region. In the past month alone, they have recorded 28 deaths and over 50 injuries among their personnel and patients due to relentless bombardment. "Recent continuous attacks targeting Saudi Hospital have intensified dramatically; it has become part of our daily lives," stated Dr. Ibo, who has lived in El-Fasher since 2011. Dr. Ibo recalls a harrowing incident during an emergency caesarean section when shells struck the hospital. "The first one hit the hospital's perimeter wall; then another shell hit the maternity operating room," he narrated, pointing out that the debris damaged the electrical generator, plunging them into darkness. The medical team had to use their phone flashlights to complete the operation under dire conditions. The precarious predicament compels Dr. Khatab Mohammed, the lead surgeon during the incident, to highlight the danger of working in a non-sterile environment. After successfully delivering the baby, the team took a group photo, contemplating it might be their last due to the ongoing threat of shelling. Since the civil war erupted in April 2023, the conflict has pitted the national army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading to a horrific humanitarian crisis where over 12 million people have been displaced. El-Fasher remains the only city under military control in Darfur, yet it is frequently attacked by RSF fighters, who have also cut off essential supply routes. According to the UN Human Rights Office, the violence has claimed over 780 civilian lives and left more than 1,140 injured. All other hospitals in the city are shut down, leaving the Saudi Hospital, which specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, to manage all medical emergencies in the region.The situation at the hospital is desperate, reflecting a critical violation of international humanitarian laws, as noted by its medical director, Mudathir Ibrahim Suleiman. He described scenes of chaos during bombings with pregnant women and children in shock, reiterating the heartbreaking circumstances in which they continue their work. "The staff at the hospital are doing the impossible to save lives,” he expressed.With the majority of the population displaced and seeking refuge in the nearby Zamzam camp, where conditions are dire, the hospital continues to provide essential services, with assistance from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). However, even this aid has faced violence; last week, an MSF ambulance was shot at while responding to emergencies. Despite overwhelming challenges and losses, the medical staff's resilience persists. Dr. Ibo emphasized their commitment to the residents of El-Fasher, expressing that all aspects of normal life in the city have vanished, yet they strive to continue their duty, even amidst threats in an environment fraught with danger. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, agencies are calling for the protection of medical facilities and adherence to international humanitarian laws to safeguard health care in conflict zones.Dr. Mohammed reflects the collective sentiment of the medics: "Our souls refused to abandon the people of this city - especially given the catastrophic conditions we witness daily." They remain resolute in their mission to save lives, hopeful for an end to the war and a return to peace.
