Medics Braving Bombardment: The Struggle for Survival in Sudan

El-Fasher's Saudi Hospital faces extreme dangers as medical staff, led by Dr. Mustafa Ali Abdulrahman Ibo, continue to perform surgeries in a city under a nine-month siege. With shelling intensifying and hospitals forced to close, these doctors exemplify determination in the face of a humanitarian crisis.

During relentless bombardments in el-Fasher, Sudan, the staff of the Saudi Hospital embody valor as they persist in life-saving medical procedures while surrounded by chaos and danger. Dr. Mustafa Ali Abdulrahman Ibo describes the harrowing reality as they recorded 28 deaths and over 50 injuries among colleagues and patients in just one month due to escalating shelling. "Continuous attacks targeting our hospital have become part of our daily lives," he expresses, underscoring the traumatic climate they operate in.

Just recently, Dr. Ibo recounted a day when, amidst an emergency caesarean operation, a shell shattered the hospital's perimeter and another struck the operating room, forcing the surgical team to resort to their mobile phone torches to complete the procedure. "The situation was dire, the environment was no longer sterile," reported Dr. Khatab Mohammed, who emphasized the risks they take daily to save lives.

The doctors, most of whom are alumni of the University of el-Fasher, have remained in their posts despite the erupting civil war that commenced in April 2023, igniting a humanitarian catastrophe affecting over 12 million people. This conflict, pitting the army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has left el-Fasher as the remaining city under army control in Darfur, subjecting it to severe attacks and blockades by the RSF.

Subsequently, all other local medical facilities have shuttered their doors. The Saudi Hospital, supported by various international organizations, stands as the sole establishment capable of surgical procedures amidst dire shortages of medical supplies. Medical Director Mudathir Ibrahim Suleiman paints a grim picture, stating, "We face conditions that violate all humanitarian and international laws."

The relentlessness of airstrikes and crossfire has driven many residents to flee, with half of the city’s population seeking refuge in the nearby Zamzam camp, which now faces famine conditions. The hospital's ambulances, aimed at delivering emergency care,, have also come under attack, leaving aid organizations horrified.

Dr. Ibo acknowledges the team spirit among the 35 doctors and 60 nurses, attributing their resilience to their bond with the el-Fasher community. "We refuse to abandon the people of this city. Our due diligence is to continue saving lives even under dire circumstances," he asserted, as aid agencies raised alarms over a deteriorating maternal and child health crisis in Darfur.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for adherence to international humanitarian laws and respect for the sanctity of health facilities, urging an immediate cessation of attacks on these critical institutions. Dr. Mohammed, originally from Sudan's White Nile state, honored his dedicated team, stating, "Our souls refused to abandon the people of this city," even as hopes remain for peace and the ending of conflict.

As this humanitarian crisis unfolds, the heroic efforts of these medical professionals underscore the fight for survival in one of the world's most perilous environments.