[ad_1]
15 August 2024 (El Fasher) – The impact of the conflict in Sudan’s North Darfur state on civilian life is becoming increasingly severe as fighting in El Fasher escalates, a medical charity has warned.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a statement on Wednesday that the city had been hit by multiple attacks over the past week. At least 15 people were reported killed and more than 130 injured since Saturday, and the Saudi hospital supported by MSF was also attacked, which was the last public hospital in the city capable of treating the wounded and performing surgery, causing severe damage and leaving the facility only partially operational.
“The attack, which took place on Sunday, August 11, was the 11th time that El Fasher Hospital had been hit since fighting escalated on May 10. The surgical ward was hit in the bombardment, killing a patient’s caregiver and injuring five others, and the obstetrics and gynecology department was also damaged. In addition, several offices in the hospital were attacked, and a nurse was injured while working inside,” the statement read.
“Saudi hospitals are already overwhelmed with the wounded after heavy fighting on Saturday, August 10. More than 100 people arrived at hospitals that day, 14 of whom died from their injuries,” the report added.
Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders said 15 wounded people were taken from El Fasher to its facility in Zam Zam camp. Fighting is expected to intensify in the coming days.
“For more than three months, people in El Fasher have been bombarded. Shelling from both sides has affected the city, resulting in more than 2,500 wounded people being brought to MSF-supported hospitals, of whom more than 370 have died from their wounds. The number of victims of the conflict is still unknown,” said Michel Olivier Lacharité, head of MSF emergencies.
“Sunday’s attack on the Saudi hospital – the largest in North Darfur – clearly shows that the warring parties are making no effort to protect medical facilities or the civilians in them. Patients fear for their lives as a result of these callous attacks,” he added.
According to Doctors Without Borders officials, people are heading to Zam Zam to escape the fighting in El Fasher, but those already in the camp fear for their lives.
“A week ago, the town of Zamzam was shelled and there is a great fear that this could happen again,” he said.
Olivier further said that MSF was preparing to receive more wounded in Zamzam, especially since the fighting in El Fasher meant that people could not easily reach Saudi hospitals.
“However, our field hospital was built to treat children with malnutrition and pediatric diseases and is not currently used to treat the wounded. There is no operating theatre and no blood bank, which means our teams will face huge pressure if the casualties continue to pour in,” he pointed out.
“In addition, the lives of people in the camps themselves are at risk. MSF sounded the alarm about the catastrophic malnutrition crisis six months ago, and now the Famine Review Committee has declared a state of famine in the camps.”
“We urge all parties to the war to allow unhindered humanitarian access, but we also urge them to protect civilians and health facilities,” Olivier said.
Saudi Hospital is the last public hospital in North Darfur that can effectively treat the wounded.
“If it or our facilities in Zam Zam are attacked again and are unable to function properly, the wounded will have nowhere to seek care and the death toll will soar,” the MSF official stressed.
(English stone)
[ad_2]
Source link
