On a recent June morning in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Tedla Damte, UNICEF Sudan’s chief of health, woke up energized thinking of his plans for the day: a visit to a UNICEF school for displaced children and meetings with the Sudan’s minister of health. Since the country’s civil war started in April 2023, the veteran humanitarian worker has been trying to manage the massive health crisis unfolding in Sudan. It’s a challenge that most days Damte has been ready to meet.
But that day in June, he got a text message from Darfur, on the other side of the country, where fighting has escalated over the past few months. It was from a colleague, informing Damte that the Saudi hospital had been attacked and damaged there. “And it was really heartbreaking when I heard that the attack also made us lose one of the very seasoned pharmacists who was giving his life in the front and helping the people of Sudan,” Damte said.
That attack was one of several against hospitals in Sudan since the start of June. Armed groups have targeted hospitals, health-care facilities and staff since a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support forces erupted into civil war. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes against civilians and against medical facilities and staff.
Damte and officials with other global aid agencies warn that these increasing attacks may soon result in a large loss of life due to lack of health care. According to UNICE.
