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Sudan

Attacks on Health Care in Sudan, 25 December 2024 - 07 January 2025

Attachments

Insecurity Insight identified 519 attacks on Sudan's health care system since fighting started between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023 and 26 November 2024. At least 119 health workers have been killed, 87 injured and 65 arrested. Health facilities have been damaged 128 times, some on multiple occasions. Pharmacies have been looted and vital medicine obstructed from reaching people.

During 2024, incidents have increased in Al Jazirah and North Darfur states. High incident numbers continue to be reported in Khartoum states but not to the same extent as in 2023.

Explore this interactive map to see where incidents happened. Access the data on HDX. The dataset no longer includes event descriptions or geo-coordinates due to HDX policy. Data is updated every Monday. Follow us for the latest updates. Numbers may change if or when further information is made available.

How Over a Year of Violence and Humanitarian Access Restrictions Have Produced Famine Conditions
This report – part of a series examining the links between conflict and hunger – focuses on reported conflict-related incidents involving food-related violence in Sudan between 15 April 2023 and 31 November 2024. These incidents included the damaging and destruction of markets and food production factories by explosive weapons use and arson; the looting of markets, food aid and livestock; and incidents of violence directly affecting people at markets and travelling to and from markets. Other factors undermining food security included blockades disrupting food supply chains and humanitarian food aid deliveries, and restrictions on access to agricultural land due to insecurity. The report indicates how over a year of persistent violence and severe humanitarian access restrictions directly led to the famine conditions declared in parts of Sudan in July 2024. The repetition of violent incidents directly affecting objects that are indispensable to the survival of the civilian population suggests that conflict parties have, in some cases, taken limited – or even no – precautionary measures to protect these objects.

The analysis is based on the Food Insecurity and Violent Conflict (FIVC)-Sudan dataset available for download on the HDX.

Documented incidents

25 December 2024: In El Fasher city, North Darfur state, the delivery room, caesarean section room, the pharmacy and the children's malnutrition ward of the MSF-supported Saudi Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital was hit by RSF heavy artillery. The facility was reportedly destroyed. Sources: Personal Communication I, Personal Communication II and Sudan Tribune

28 December 2024: In Block 15, Abu Shouk IDP Camp, El Fasher city, North Darfur state, an IRC health centre was bombed by the RSF, killing a man and injuring an unspecified number of others. Source: Darfur Victims Support

As reported on 28 December 2024: In Kabkabiya town and district, North Darfur state, a patient was killed, an elderly woman raped and an unspecified number of health workers, patients and their families harassed during an RSF attack on Kabkabiya Hospital. Source: Personal Communication

30 December 2024: In Wad Rawah town, Al Jazirah state, a clinic, market and mosque were burnt down, medical equipment stolen and an unspecified number of pharmacies looted during an attack on the area by the RSF. Sources: Sudan Doctors Network and Sudan Tribune

04 January 2025: In El Fasher city, North Darfur state, the MSF-supported Saudi Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital was hit by RSF shelling, killing two people and injuring two health workers. This is the 14th time the facility has been attacked since the conflict began. Amid the bombardments surrounding the hospital, an image made the rounds on social media of doctors performing a caesarean section using mobile phone torchlights as explosions continued near the facility. Sources: Dabanga Sudan, Sudan Doctors Network and Sudan Tribune