Sudan Doctors Network
Statement
More than 40 hospitals and 244 health centers resume services out of 120 hospitals and 288 centers destroyed by the war in Khartoum
The health sector in Khartoum State suffered severe damage during the first year of the war, with about 70% of hospitals going completely or partially out of service due to shelling, looting, and a lack of supplies. More than 120 hospitals in both the public and private sectors were looted, further worsening the deterioration of health services and reducing the state’s capacity to respond to the growing need for medical care. Reference infrastructure sustained extensive damage, most notably the destruction of the National Laboratory (Stack) and the Central Blood Bank, and the shutdown of major referral centers in the state. This directly affected diagnostic and blood transfusion services and increased the risk of treatment delays, especially for critical and emergency cases.
According to a report prepared by the Sudan Doctors Network team through a tracking mechanism for the rehabilitation of medical facilities across the public and private sectors and local initiatives, the report highlights a reassuring aspect despite the scale of losses. Indicators point to the beginning of a gradual return of hospitals to service, with the number of operational hospitals in both sectors rising to more than 40 out of the 120 hospitals that had gone out of service. More than 17 hospitals have also been rehabilitated and are expected to resume operations in January, enhancing health coverage and easing pressure on functioning facilities.
Despite the great need accompanying the voluntary return to Khartoum State, the health sector has begun implementing emergency measures to improve access to services by operating 10 mobile clinics to provide healthcare within the state. This aims to alleviate citizens’ difficulties in reaching medical facilities, particularly in affected or remote areas far from hospitals.
At the level of primary healthcare, the Network’s team recorded a total of 282 health centers providing basic services to citizens in the state. Joint efforts by local communities, active organizations, and the public sector have restored services in 244 centers, while 38 centers remain non-operational, requiring additional efforts for rehabilitation and to ensure continuity of services.
Regarding referral centers, rehabilitation work at Khartoum Hospital, Al-Shaab Hospital, Bahri Hospital, Ahmed Qassem Hospital, and Al-Ameen Children’s Hospital has reached advanced stages and is expected to allow them to resume near-full operation in January, according to the tracking matrix used by the Network’s teams.
The current situation reflects the extent of destruction inflicted on the health sector in Khartoum State, but at the same time shows positive signs of gradual recovery supported by the reopening of hospitals, rehabilitation of facilities, and expansion of mobile services. Nevertheless, there remains an urgent need to intensify support, accelerate rehabilitation, and strengthen supplies and human resources to ensure the sustainability and improvement of healthcare services.
