The escalating violence in Sudan is destroying the country’s health system, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said yesterday.
Ghebreyesus reported in a post on X that “14.7 million people in need of lifesaving healthcare.”
He added: “A lack of safe, unfettered access is preventing delivery of medicines and supplies, and endangering civilians and health workers.”
“Of critical concern is the funding gap for humanitarian and health support: less than half of the $178.6M requested to help 4.9 million people has been provided to @WHO and health partners,” said Ghebreyesus.
An infographic titled ‘500 Days Of War: Death, Disease, Hunger Stalk Tens of Millions in Sudan’ created in Ankara, Turkiye on August 21, 2024 [Kenan Kaplan – Anadolu Agency]
#Sudan’s escalating conflict is devastating its health system, with 14.7 million people in need of lifesaving healthcare.
A lack of safe, unfettered access is preventing delivery of medicines and supplies, and endangering civilians and health workers.
Of critical concern is… pic.twitter.com/b61ysBFxrg
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 20, 2024
He called for “increased support to save lives in Sudan.”
In mid-April 2023, war broke out between the Sudanese army and a local militia group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leaving about 18,800 dead and nearly ten million displaced, according to the UN.
The fighting has pushed many million Sudanese to the brink of famine and death due to food shortages.
READ: UAE ramps up humanitarian aid to Sudan amid ongoing conflict