WHO: Dozens of Health Workers and Patients Killed in Two Months
moatinoon
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 16 health workers and patients, including children, have been killed, and 56 others injured due to 22 attacks on healthcare in Sudan over the past eight weeks. These attacks targeted facilities, equipment, healthcare staff, and patients.
In a statement issued yesterday, the WHO verified that 22 attacks on healthcare occurred between June 1 and the end of July. The organization highlighted that access to healthcare in Sudan is already severely restricted due to the ongoing war, which started over a year ago.
The WHO confirmed that since the outbreak of war in April 2023, there have been 88 verified attacks on healthcare, including health facilities, ambulances, transport, assets, patients, and healthcare workers. These attacks resulted in 55 deaths and 104 injuries.
The WHO expressed frustration that the perseverance and dedication of health workers in Sudan, who continue to provide life-saving care under extremely challenging conditions to millions of citizens in urgent need, are met with bombings, harassment, intimidation, injury, and death.
The organization stated that health workers should not have to risk losing their lives or limbs while striving to save others, and patients should not have to risk death in their search for medical care.
The international organization further explained that war, displacement, disease outbreaks, severe shortages of medical supplies, and lack of funds for operations and salaries have devastated Sudans healthcare system. What remains of it is hanging by a thread.
According to the WHO, less than 25% of healthcare facilities in the states most affected by the war are operational, and only 45% of facilities in other states are fully functional. The people of Sudan are already struggling to access the life-saving care they need, with half of the population—24.8 million people—in need of humanitarian assistance, and nearly 15 million in urgent need of health aid for their survival.
The WHO called on both parties in the conflict to protect all healthcare workers, patients, and health facilities at all times, reminding them that international humanitarian law mandates the protection of healthcare services, health assets, healthcare workers, and patients even during wartime.
