Violence forces MSF to evacuate team from Turkish Hospital in Khartoum

Moatinoon
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has evacuated its team from a major medical facility in Khartoum, Turkish Hospital, following a series of violent incidents endangering staff.

This decision was not made lightly. MSF provided continuous hands-on, lifesaving treatment in the hospital for nearly 14 months during the ongoing war in Sudan, despite many, often deliberate, obstructions by the warring parties. However, as a result of recent events, this hands-on support is no longer possible.

“The situation in the Turkish Hospital, located in an RSF-controlled area, has become untenable," said Claire Nicolet, head of MSF’s emergency response in Sudan, using an abbreviation for the Rapid Support Forces, which are one of the main warring parties in Sudan. "Multiple violent incidents have taken place inside and outside the premises over the past 12 months, and the lives of our staff have been repeatedly threatened. Most recently, on the nights of June 17 and 18, dozens of wounded combatants were brought to the Turkish Hospital, and our team was aggressively woken up as Kalashnikovs were fired into their bedrooms. This type of violence against our staff is unacceptable. Hospitals and health facilities should be protected and respected by the warring parties as sanctuaries for the sick and wounded where health workers can safely deliver medical care. They cannot have their lives put at risk as they try to save the lives of other people.”

Over the past year, MSF staff working at the Turkish Hospital have been frequently harassed both inside the facility and on the street going to and from work. Many have been threatened with arrest. In early June 2024, one MSF employee was arrested inside the hospital by two armed men, taken to an unknown location, and severely beaten.