At least three civilians lost their lives when shells struck a vital hospital in Sudan on Monday, according to a medical source.
“Shells fell on the Al-Nau hospital,” in Omdurman, the twin city of Sudan’s capital Khartoum, a medical source told media by telephone.
Omdurman has become an arena of intense clashes between the conventional army, under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Since the conflict commenced on April 15, human rights organisations have alleged that both parties have deliberately targeted healthcare facilities.
Back in August, the medical relief organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) issued a warning, stating that Al-Nau hospital was among the few remaining healthcare facilities still operational in Omdurman.
“It’s also the only facility with a trauma emergency room or surgical capacity in north Omdurman, so all wounded patients in the city are brought there,” MSF said, while other medics have called the hospital “a beacon of hope”.
As per the United Nations, over 70 percent of the nation’s hospitals are currently non-operational.
While the majority of the conflict had previously been localized in the capital and the western Darfur region, eyewitnesses report that it has now expanded to areas situated south of Khartoum.
In Jabal Awliya town, located 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the south of the capital, medical professionals have been compelled to cease all hospital operations since last night due to intense artillery shelling, as conveyed by a doctor to media.
“Dozens of wounded” remained in the hospital, waiting for urgent treatment, he added.
The Sudan conflict has, by conservative estimates from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project, resulted in the loss of over 9,000 lives thus far.
Aid organizations and healthcare professionals have consistently cautioned that the actual toll surpasses the documented figures, as a significant number of those injured or deceased never make it to hospitals or morgues.
Amidst the conflict, one child tragically lost their life, and a minimum of 16 individuals sustained injuries. Additionally, several homes were demolished, as reported by a committee of pro-democracy lawyers dedicated to documenting such atrocities.
The ongoing conflict has led to a staggering estimate of 5.5 million people forced to flee, with many seeking refuge both within Sudan and in neighbouring countries, as reported by the United Nations.
