Militias Bombing of Medical Facilities in Dilling Results in Near-Total Collapse of Health Sector

Dilling -Nilepost

The Sudanese charity, Sudan Doctors Network, has appealed to regional and international organizations to press the Rapid Support Forces Militias and the Rebel movement in South Kordofan, to put an end to the systematic bombing of health facilities in south Kordofan ’s main town, as this has already led to semi-collapse of health services and exacerbated an already fragile health situation for thousands of trapped civilians there.

In a statement it issued on Saturday the charity has stressed that health facilities in Dilling, South Kordofan State, have been repeatedly targeted by bombardment carried out by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) faction led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, in clear violation of international law.

“This has resulted in a large number of medical facilities in the city being rendered inoperable, including the teaching hospital, despite attempts to partially reopen it. Al-Toumat Referral Hospital has remained out of service for some time, while the Military Hospital has been completely destroyed. Umm Bakhita Hospital is now limited to providing maternity services only. The bombing has also forced the majority of health centers—estimated at around 10—to close, including those providing nutrition and reproductive health services.” The network stressed.

The network confirms that this systematic targeting has led to a near-total collapse of the city’s health system, characterized by a severe shortage of medical personnel, as well as a lack of medicines, equipment, and medical supplies. Additionally, radiology equipment has broken down and urgently requires repair.

It complained that “the few functioning facilities are suffering from a critical shortage of basic medical consumables, such as dressings for the injured, making the provision of healthcare extremely difficult and placing thousands of civilians—especially women and children—at grave risk due to the absence of life-saving services.”

The Sudanese Doctors Network has urged for an immediate halt to the targeting of health facilities and calls for the urgent establishment of safe humanitarian corridors to ensure the delivery of medical supplies and personnel to Dilling. It also appeals to international, regional, and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action to provide the necessary support and rehabilitate health institutions, thereby saving thousands of lives and mitigating the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the city.