Environmental assessments urged in war-torn Sudan for safe return of displaced people
March 26, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Heba Al-Makki, head of Sudan’s Central Committee of Health Officers, calls for urgent environmental health surveys in war-affected states. The extensive use of explosives and landmines during the conflict poses a significant threat to returning displaced people.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Al-Makki emphasized the need for scientifically conducted environmental assessments. This data is critical to determine if the environment is safe for displaced populations to return home.
Beyond the war zones, Al-Makki expressed concerns about potential health risks within Khartoum itself. The disruption of sanitation services and disease control efforts raises red flags. Additionally, unconfirmed reports on social media regarding the use of landmines to secure military headquarters in Khartoum warrant serious investigation.
“If the rumours of landmines planted in Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri are true, the lives of citizens returning home are in grave danger,” Al-Makki warned. She urged authorities to clarify the situation and, if landmines are present, provide maps for safe removal.
Al-Makki outlined several challenges facing a return to normalcy in Khartoum. These include looting and destruction of specialized laboratories, hospitals, and pesticide stores, potential leakage of dangerous materials, samples, and toxins from these damaged sites, decomposing bodies left behind during the conflict and potential resurgence of pre-war diseases like dengue and malaria due to a halt in control efforts.
She acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Health and volunteers who buried a significant number of bodies in Omdurman.
“Only comprehensive health and environmental surveys in Khartoum can confirm or dispel these public health and environmental concerns,” Al-Makki asserted. “Without data-driven evidence, discussions about the safety of returning citizens remain speculative. This lack of accountability could have dire consequences.”