The war in Sudan has taken a devastating toll on the country’s health sector, with alarming reports of targeted violence against medical professionals. According to the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, more than 230 doctors have been killed since the conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The syndicate’s Steering Committee revealed that nine female doctors were raped, and two others abducted when RSF fighters advanced into Gezira State. In addition, both warring factions are accused of arresting over 30 doctors and abducting at least 20 more, whose fates remain unknown.
Adeeba Ibrahim Al-Sayed, a representative of the syndicate’s Omdurman branch, described the situation as dire, stating that doctors have increasingly become targets in what appear to be politically and militarily motivated acts of violence. “Many of those targeted were accused of aiding the other side,” she said.
The conflict has not only threatened lives but also shattered the healthcare system. An estimated 85% of hospitals and health centers across the country are now closed, leading to extreme overcrowding and deteriorating health conditions in the few that remain functional. The closure of medical facilities has contributed to the spread of disease and left thousands without access to urgent care.
The ongoing violence has also forced at least 8,000 doctors to flee or become internally displaced, creating a critical shortage of medical personnel at a time when their services are most needed.
Both SAF and RSF have been accused of committing widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and the targeting of civilians. As the war grinds on, civilians and health workers continue to bear the brunt of the suffering in a nation already facing a humanitarian catastrophe.