The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued a stark warning about an escalating health crisis in Sudan’s North Darfur State, particularly in the state capital, al-Fashir, and surrounding camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the region’s already fragile healthcare system, leaving millions without access to basic medical care.

According to OCHA, more than 200 health facilities in al-Fashir are no longer functioning, crippled by severe shortages of medical staff, essential medicines, and life-saving supplies. The crisis has been exacerbated by continued hostilities, which have triggered waves of displacement and overwhelmed the region’s capacity to respond to even the most basic health needs.

The RSF has intensified its attacks on areas in North Darfur, particularly targeting al-Fashir, in an effort to seize control of the only remaining state in the Darfur region still under SAF control. The violence has further impeded humanitarian efforts, with OCHA reporting that partners attempting to deliver medical supplies face significant challenges due to insecurity and access constraints.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that more than 70 percent of hospitals and health facilities across Sudan are no longer operational as a result of the war, which erupted in April 2023. Since the conflict began, WHO has documented nearly 150 attacks on healthcare facilities, though the true number is likely far higher.

OCHA has renewed its urgent appeal to the warring parties to ensure safe, sustained, and timely humanitarian access to deliver life-saving support to those in need. “Civilians must be protected, and the essential needs for their survival must be met,” the agency stressed, underscoring the dire consequences of the ongoing crisis for the people of North Darfur. (ILKHA)