Sudan War: No Will to Peace, Top Doctor Warns

The protracted conflict in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced, escalating into a global humanitarian catastrophe. According to Javid Abdelmoneim, international president of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), there is a profound lack of political will to resolve the war peacefully or to safeguard civilians.

Abdelmoneim highlighted the dire conditions in Darfur, where civilians face extreme violence, acute food insecurity, rampant sexual violence, and a collapsed health system. He noted that global funding cuts and logistical hurdles, partly linked to the conflict in the Middle East, are severely hampering aid delivery.

MSF, though not directly reliant on state funding, experiences ripple effects as other health actors withdraw. The situation is deteriorating, with numerous primary health centers losing funding, leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles and meningitis. The approaching rainy season raises fears of a cholera resurgence.

In Tawila, a refugee town in Darfur, an estimated 400,000 to one million people suffer from severe food and water shortages. Abdelmoneim also condemned the nearly 200 attacks on healthcare facilities since the war began, resulting in around 1,700 deaths, creating an environment where healthcare workers fear coming to work.