Doctors Without Borders has warned of a sharp rise in measles cases across Central, South, and West Darfur, urging immediate vaccination campaigns and the restoration of routine immunisation to contain the outbreak.
In a statement, the medical organisation said more than 1,300 measles cases have been recorded since September at health facilities it supports, despite repeated appeals for emergency vaccination efforts and the resumption of routine immunisation programmes.
MSF called on authorities to urgently remove bureaucratic and administrative barriers that continue to delay the delivery of vaccines across Darfur, warning that further delays could worsen an already fragile public health situation.
The organisation also urged UNICEF to accelerate coordination efforts to boost the transport and distribution of vaccines, syringes, and other essential medical supplies. At the same time, it appealed to state and federal health ministries to immediately launch a comprehensive measles vaccination campaign alongside routine immunisation services.
Ahmed Fadhel, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, stressed that measles is entirely preventable when timely immunisation is in place. He said ongoing conflict, administrative obstacles, and delays by key agencies have severely limited both routine and emergency vaccination efforts.
Health workers warn that continued disruptions to immunisation services, combined with displacement and weak healthcare infrastructure, risk allowing the outbreak to spread further, particularly among children already vulnerable due to malnutrition and conflict related conditions.
