The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is considering stopping its vital work in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, after a series of incidents in which its workers have been targeted.
The latest one happened on Thursday when a convoy taking medical supplies to the Turkish Hospital in the south of the capital was “stopped by a group of armed men”, MSF has said in a press release.
“After arguing about the reasons for MSF’s presence, the armed men then aggressively assaulted our team, physically beating and whipping them, as well as detaining the driver of one of our vehicles.”
The life of the driver was then threatened and the vehicle was stolen.
The charity has said that its work at the Turkish Hospital is in “serious jeopardy” without safety guarantees.
“In order to save people’s lives, the lives of our staff who are there to carry out this life saving work must not be put at risk. 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,” Christophe Garnier, MSF’s emergencies manager for Sudan, said.
The hospital is only one of two operating in southern Khartoum, both of which MSF supports, the charity says.
There are very few other international charities working in the country.
But now “the organisation is beginning to think that its ongoing support may soon no longer be possible”.
As the three-month conflict between the army and a paramilitary force continues, the few remaining medical facilities in Khartoum are struggling to treat wounded patients.
MSF says it has treated over 1,600 war-wounded patients in the capital since April.
Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC
