Sudan: Deteriorating situation in El Fasher, health system collapsing nationwide

UN news
May 29, 2024

Sudan: Deteriorating situation in El Fasher, health system collapsing nationwide


The fighting has reportedly forced thousands of people to flee since 10 May and caused hundreds of civilian casualties, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York.

“Unfortunately, in El Fasher South Hospital – which is the only functioning hospital in that state – only 10 days of supplies are left, with an urgent need to restock the hospital,” he said.

Aid delivery blocked 

The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in battle since April 2023. 

The conflict has sparked a humanitarian crisis, with some 18 million people across the country going hungry and five million on the brink of famine.

Tweet URL
 

Mr. Dujarric said more than a dozen trucks carrying aid for more than 121,000 people have been trying to reach El Fasher for over a month, but have been hampered because of the security situation.

Remove access constraints 

Turning to the wider Darfur region, he said that despite the insecurity and severe access constraints, a truck from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) was able to cross into North Darfur from Chad on Thursday.

The truck carried 1,200 metric tonnes of food and nutrition supplies for some 117,000 people.

“It is critical that these trucks are allowed to safely and directly continue to their destinations in Central and South Darfur,” he said, emphasising the need for both cross-border and cross-line access.