Woman dies in Sudan’s Kassala hospital after surgery during blackout

April 23, 2026 (KASSALA) – A woman died during surgery at the Police Hospital in Kassala state on Thursday following a power failure, sparking outrage from medical advocacy groups over crumbling health infrastructure and administrative neglect.

The Sudan Doctors Network said the sudden blackout caused vital medical equipment to fail. Surgical staff were reportedly forced to continue the procedure using mobile phone flashlights before the patient died.

The incident highlights the deteriorating state of Sudan’s healthcare sector, which has been crippled by the ongoing conflict, erratic electricity supplies, and a chronic shortage of essential backup systems.

The advocacy group called for an immediate investigation into the hospital’s management and the state’s health ministry. It emphasized that hospitals must be equipped with automatic backup generators to ensure patient safety in critical care units.

The family of the deceased, identified as Asma Ali al-Awad, announced they are pursuing legal action against the lead surgeon and the hospital administration.

In a statement, the family alleged that the specialist proceeded with the surgery despite a regional power outage that had begun earlier that afternoon. They claimed the hospital’s generator failed four times during the operation.

“The procedure was conducted under mobile phone lights, lacking the most basic medical safety standards,” the family’s statement said, describing the conditions as a professional violation of surgical protocols.

The family further alleged that the surgeon left the hospital without providing an explanation for the death.

Kassala state authorities have not yet issued a formal response to the allegations.

Hospital infrastructure in eastern Sudan has come under increasing strain as facilities struggle to cope with an influx of displaced persons and a lack of spare parts for essential machinery.