Hospital in the Shadow of War
Moatinoon
Deutsche Welle, in collaboration with others, produced a documentary that depicts the human dimension of the crisis in Sudan, specifically in the Nuba Mountains region. For decades, the people of the Nuba Mountains have suffered from oppression by the government in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. To this day, this remote region in the south of the country lacks paved roads, mobile phone coverage, and virtually no medical care. One hospital has defied all odds for nearly 30 years.
In one of the few hospitals in the region, a surgeon and his team work tirelessly to maintain medical care. Since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023, conditions have deteriorated dramatically. Despite the proximity of the front lines, the region has largely been spared direct fighting so far. However, like half of Sudans population, the people of this region also face the threat of famine. A civil war has erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, with the two sides vying for control of Africas third-largest country.
The documentary follows the life of Joseph Yacoub, a hospital director, as he navigates his daily life. He is the only surgeon in the area, and the hospital receives hundreds of patients daily—including women in the final stages of pregnancy, wounded fighters, and mothers with malnourished children. Not all of them can be helped.
Joseph had to learn his surgical skills on the job because there are no universities in the Nuba Mountains. He now passes on his knowledge to Nidal Divan, who aspires to become the first female surgeon in the Nuba Mountains, and Aziz Burma, a former soldier. Joseph hopes that these two will one day continue their work. The film sheds light on a seemingly endless war that has left deep scars on the population. All the people portrayed are struggling for a future where war is a distant memory.
“The statistics of war are difficult to imagine, so we looked for a place that would allow us to experience the human dimension,” say directors Karl Gerstorfer and Laura Salem-Riverscheidt. “In a hospital in the Nuba Mountains, we found stories of people seeking shelter, of people suffering from hunger, but also of an indomitable will to survive.” In their film, they follow the daily life of Joseph Yacoub, the only surgeon in the region, as he runs a hospital. He cares for pregnant women, wounded people, and mothers of malnourished children.
"Sudan ranks 156th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index. Independent media coverage is virtually nonexistent in the country, and access to information is extremely limited. This makes this film all the more important, as it provides a clear look at the humanitarian crisis in Sudan," says Dr. Nadja Schulz, DWs managing director of programs.
"Its true that the people and their stories are confined to a narrow setting: a hospital. But the fates of the people there reflect the tragedy of an entire country, torn apart by a brutal civil war," says DW editor Dieter Roser.
The documentary will premiere on the DW Documentaries YouTube channel on June 19, 2025. It will be available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, and Bahasa Indonesia. It will also air globally on DW TV channels.
