The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for an end to violence in Sudan following the killing of a doctor in the conflict-hit city of El-Fasher.

“Sudan's bloodshed must end,” Tedros wrote on social media, expressing his sorrow over the death of Dr. Adam Ibrahim Ismail. He emphasized that the WHO mourns his passing and demanded an end to attacks on health workers. He concluded his message with a plea for peace, stating: “Peace is the best medicine.”

The killing comes amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since April 2023. On 26 October, the RSF seized control of El-Fasher, committing widespread attacks against civilians and sparking mass displacement.

The humanitarian situation in El-Fasher and surrounding areas has deteriorated sharply. Health workers have been targeted, medical facilities disrupted, and access to essential services and supplies severely limited. Civilians face shortages of food, clean water, and medical care, while outbreaks of disease and malnutrition have escalated.

Recent diplomatic efforts have sought to secure a humanitarian truce, with the RSF signaling tentative agreement to a proposed ceasefire. However, the SAF has not formally accepted such terms, and experts warn that fighting could continue if armed groups remain in civilian areas.

Tedros’s appeal highlights the extreme risks faced by health workers and civilians in Sudan, and underscores the urgent need for an end to hostilities to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe. (ILKHA)