South Darfur records 300 casualties amidst medicine shortage
September 22, 2023 (NYALA) – A senior official in South Darfur State’s Ministry of Health disclosed on Friday that approximately 300 individuals lost their lives in a recent surge of violence pitting the army against the Rapid Support Forces.
Over the past month, confrontations have escalated throughout Nyala, engulfing most of its neighbourhoods and compelling nearly 50,000 city residents to seek refuge in neighbouring states, as reported by the United Nations.
Abbas Hassan Shams al-Din, Director of Emergency Management and Epidemic Control in South Darfur, shared with Sudan Tribune that the death toll has reached approximately 300 fatalities, with 2,150 others sustaining injuries since the commencement of hostilities within the state.
Acknowledging a dire shortage of essential medicines, medical equipment, and fuel for hospital operations, Shams al-Din made an impassioned plea to international and national organizations to join hands in supporting the people of South Darfur by providing essential treatment and preventive services.
Moreover, he affirmed that the overall health situation remains relatively stable, with no notable outbreaks of epidemic diseases besides a surge in malaria cases.
Highlighting the resilience of several hospitals operating within the state, including Nyala Teaching Hospital, which offers services in dialysis, orthopaedics, and urology, as well as Al-Nahda Hospital, Sheikh Musa Hospital, the Italian Hospital for Children, Al-Wahda Hospital, and the Turkish Hospital.
The Emergency Director also noted the restoration of health centres to total operational capacity, including High Dam, Al-Intifada, Al-Jir, and the Peace Camp health centre. The latter was revitalized through the collaborative efforts of local youth and community leaders. They received essential medicines and nutritional treatments distributed to nutrition centres across the state.
Since the onset of the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in mid-April in Khartoum, the conflict has expanded into several areas within the Darfur and Kordofan regions.
(ST)