Showing posts with label attacks on medics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attacks on medics. Show all posts

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Medics whipped in Khartoum after convoy attacked. Darfur death toll in one city alone estimate is 3K-11K

Report from BBC News -  bbc.co.uk/news

By Muthoni Muchiri

BBC News

Published Friday 21 July 2023 - here is a full copy:

Sudan conflict: Medics whipped in Khartoum after convoy attacked - MSF

IMAGE SOURCE,

MSF/REUTERS

Image caption,

MSF medics are treating war-wounded across Sudan - and over the border in Chad where many from Darfur are fleeing


Medics in Sudan's capital have been beaten and whipped by armed men who attacked their convoy, medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says.


A medical team was taking supplies to the Turkish Hospital in the south of Khartoum when it was attacked on Thursday and one their vehicles stolen.


Since the war erupted in mid-April, it is one of only two hospitals still operating in the south of city.


Both are supported by MSF, which says its aid to them is now in jeopardy.


The vicious power struggle over the last three months between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated medical facilities in the city.


'Death threats'


While more than three million people nationwide have fled their homes since April, millions of others are still stuck in Khartoum, struggling to find medicine and medical assistance.


MSF is one of only a few international aid groups still supporting hospitals in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman, helping to keep afloat a health system that has been under strain for decades.


It says it has treated more than 1,600 patients in these hospitals since the conflict began.


But the charity warned this might have to stop because of a dramatic deterioration in security with several incidents in which its staff had been targeted.


During the encounter on Thursday, the armed men began arguing with the 18 people in the MSF convoy made up of four trucks carrying medical supplies.


As well as assaulting the team, the armed men threatened the life of one of the drivers before releasing him and making off with one of the vehicles.


"If an incident like this happens again, and if our ability to move supplies continues to be obstructed, then, regrettably, our presence in the Turkish Hospital will soon become untenable," MSF's Christophe Garnier said in a statement.


The confrontation took place not far from the hospital, where hundreds of patients, including those recently wounded in air strikes, are undergoing treatment.


"On a daily basis, this hospital receives around 15 war wounded patients, carries out lifesaving surgery and keeps patients with chronic diseases alive," MSF said.


According to the AFP news agency, the hospital is in an area of the city controlled by the RSF.


Aerial bombardments have intensified in residential areas of Khartoum where the paramilitary fighters have their bases, it says.


Official figures put the number of dead in the conflict at around 3,000, but it is thought to be far higher.


Some estimates from the western region of Darfur, which have seen the worst of the violence, say the death toll in one city alone is 11,000.


View original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-66273266


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UN deeply concerned by 50+ attacks on aid workers and health care in Sudan in three months -WHO

Report from China View - Xinhuanet english.news.cn
Source: Xinhua. Editor: huaxia
Published on Saturday 22 July at 05:17 - here is a full copy:

UN humanitarians deeply concerned by ongoing attacks on health care in Sudan


UNITED NATIONS, July 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Humanitarians on Friday expressed deep concern over more than 50 attacks on aid workers and health care in Sudan in three months.


"We are appalled by reports that a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) team was assaulted by armed men in Khartoum yesterday (Thursday)," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.


According to OCHA, MSF reported that a 16-person team in Khartoum was aggressively assaulted by a group of armed men who physically beat and whipped them. The assailants detained one of the MSF drivers and, before his release, threatened to kill him. They also stole a vehicle.


MSF said the incident happened as the team was moving medical supplies from the organization's warehouse to the Turkish Hospital, one of only two hospitals still operating in all of southern Khartoum.


"We underscore that attacks on health care workers and facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law," OCHA said. "They must stop now."


The World Health Organization has verified more than 50 attacks on health care since the conflict began in Sudan on April 15. 


View original: http://www.chinaview.cn/20230722/2f9a1cf70e2344feba9aa2b64c2a1c4f/c.html


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