APA-Khartoum (Sudan) MSF says its workers and patients in medical facilities in Sudan are repeatedly experiencing armed incursions, with clinics and hospitals being looted of medicines and supplies.
”Our efforts to scale up medical activities in the country since conflict erupted have been hindered by violence and armed aggression and occupation of our premises” MSF adds in a statement to APA on Tuesday.
It urges the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces to ensure the safety of medical personnel and health facilities, and to allow safe passage of ambulances and people seeking healthcare.
Hundreds have died since fightig broke out in Khartoum and other cities between Sudanese army soldiers loyal to junta leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and fighters of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his former deputy turned foe Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo known also as Hamedti.
While tens of thousands have fled the fighting which began on April 16th, many more remained trapped in the violence despite several ceasefires which were eventually ignored by the belligerents.
”Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) condemns the unacceptable harassment of our staff and the violent looting and occupation of our medical premises and supported facilities in Sudan” the statement says.
”Staff and patients are repeatedly facing the trauma of armed groups entering and looting MSF premises, with medicines, supplies and vehicles being stolen. This shocking disregard for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law has impeded our ability to provide healthcare to people at a time when it is desperately needed” it adds.
MSF, which runs medical projects in 10 states in Sudan, has been attempting to scale up its medical activities since the crisis began last month.
”Our scale up efforts have been continually hampered by violence, aggressive armed incursions, looting or armed occupation of our premises, as well as administrative and logistical challenges” MSF says.
The humanitarian group calls on the warring sides to ensure the safety and security of medical personnel and health facilities, to allow safe passage of ambulances and people seeking healthcare and to facilitate access and rapid and unimpeded movement for humanitarian workers, organisations and supplies.
MSF rues the fact that although a nationwide ceasefire was announced between the warring parties on 20 May, local ceasefires have not always been respected in the past.
Multiple incidents affecting MSF premises in Sudan since the conflict started, include the looting and occupation between 16 and 20 May of an MSF warehouse in Khartoum.
It says medical supplies, fuel and vehicles were stolen while medicines were spoiled.
Between 17 and 23 May the MSF office in Zalingei, central Darfur, was looted, as was the Zalingei Teaching Hospital where a generator was destroyed and fuel that the organisation had donated was stolen.
On 19 May, three MSF cars were taken after armed men entered an MSF office in Khartoum while on 18 May, an MSF guesthouse in Nyala, south Darfur, was looted.
MSF says that as a result of the insecurity, it has been forced to suspend medical activities in South Darfur coming after its compound and warehouse were violently looted in Nyala on 16 April, with two vehicles stolen.
The MSF warehouse remains occupied by armed fighters.
”These attacks are not limited to MSF and are part of a wider trend of both warring parties disregarding civilian lives, infrastructure and healthcare facilities. As of 22 May, the World Health Organization has documented 38 attacks on healthcare since the conflict began. Hospitals and healthcare workers are protected under international humanitarian law, but there are reports of the occupation of hospitals by armed groups which can weaken their protection, putting patients, healthcare workers and facilities at risk” the MSF statement points out.
WN/as/APA