Skip to content
general-news — War-and-conflicts — nutrition — Science — Government — Community — Health-and-wellness — Chronic-diseases — Medical-conditions

City's Healthcare System Crumbles under War's Ruinous Impact

Amidst the conflict, Khartoum's medical infrastructure, initially comprising around 100 public and private facilities, is now fully inactive.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
In the past two years prior to the outbreak of Fighting, Khartoum boasted almost 100 operational...
In the past two years prior to the outbreak of Fighting, Khartoum boasted almost 100 operational public and private medical facilities. However, regrettably, today, not one of these facilities continues to function.

City's Healthcare System Crumbles under War's Ruinous Impact

Sudan's Capital, Khartoum, Grapple with Grim Healthcare and Nutritional Crisis Amid Ongoing Conflict

In the bustling Al Buluk Pediatric Hospital in Omdurman, a city across the White Nile River from Khartoum, 30-year-old Alawiya Zakaria cradles her malnourished 1-year-old daughter, Sabba. The hospital has become a sanctuary for families like Zakaria's, who embark on arduous journeys to seek treatment for their starving children.

The bleak reality of healthcare in Khartoum is a grim effect of the two-year-long civil war that has ravaged Sudan. In a matter of months, over 100 medical facilities in the city, both public and private, have ceased operations, leaving the health system in ruins.

The recent recapture of Khartoum by the Sudanese army has eased some movement of aid; however, the full extent of devastation left in the war's wake is now evident. The city has been reduced to a battlefield, with streets scarred by gunfire and bombs.

According to the World Food Programme, over 600,000 people are now facing famine, a stark contrast to pre-war times. This surge in severe malnutrition is not merely a byproduct of war but a weapon employed by both parties, with access to aid being deliberately obstructed in contested areas.

Families like Zakaria's have borne the brunt of this chaos. Once, they could rely on volunteer-run community kitchens for sustenance. However, skyrocketing food prices and funding cuts to aid programs have rendered this support elusive.

In the absence of functional medical facilities in Khartoum, children in Zakaria's neighborhood have been dying from malnutrition-related conditions. Desperate, she sought help from Al Buluk Hospital, where her daughter Sabba spent days receiving treatment.

Understaffed and struggling to cope with the influx of patients, Al Buluk remains a vital lifeline. The hospital, supported by the Sudanese American Physicians Association and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), has faced repeated artillery attacks and casualties.

Volunteer networks, such as the Emergency Response Rooms (ERR), have played an essential role in providing medical aid, counseling, and setting up community kitchens. However, their efforts have often been insufficient to meet the overwhelming demand.

The cholera outbreak spreading throughout Khartoum State poses another dire challenge. With over 7,700 reported cases, the situation is particularly grim for children under five, many of whom have succumbed to the disease.

A total of 17,000 children under five have been treated for severe acute malnutrition in Khartoum State since the beginning of 2025. Disruptions in access to safe water and food, worsened by displacement and infrastructure damage, have drastically increased the risk of malnutrition and waterborne diseases.

The humanitarian response faces significant funding gaps, with only a fraction of the required funds being met. Aid organizations, such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), are working to expand their services, offering oral rehydration centers and distributing hygiene kits to combat the growing cholera cases.

For families like Zakaria's, the future remains uncertain. Once a bustling city, Khartoum now resembles a warzone. But the spirit of its people, as evidenced by Zakaria's determination to save her daughter, offers a shimmer of hope amid the chaos.

Copyright 2025 NPR.

  1. The Sudanese army's recent recapture of Khartoum has eased some movement of aid, but the healthcare and nutritional crisis persists due to the damage wrought by the ongoing civil war.
  2. The closure of over 100 medical facilities in Khartoum, both public and private, has left the health system in ruins, forcing families to seek treatment for their starving children in facilities like Al Buluk Pediatric Hospital.
  3. The World Food Programme reports that over 600,000 people are now facing famine in Khartoum, a stark contrast to pre-war times, with access to aid being deliberately obstructed in contested areas.
  4. In addition to severe malnutrition, Khartoum is also grappling with a cholera outbreak, with over 7,700 reported cases and many children under five succumbing to the disease.
  5. Aid organizations are working to expand their services, offering oral rehydration centers and distributing hygiene kits to combat the growing cholera cases, but face significant funding gaps.
  6. The bleak reality of healthcare in Khartoum is a grim effect of the ongoing conflict, underscoring the need for political stability and investment in medical facilities, science, nutrition, and general news coverage on chronic-kidney-disease, fitness-and-exercise, and community health-and-wellness initiatives.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest

    Prioritizing a high-quality, dependable sleep scenario isn't solely about reaching an eight-hour...
    Mental-health

    Effective Sleep Routines You Can Count On:

    Ensuring a high-quality, consistent, and conducive sleep environment isn't solely about logging eight hours—it's about the quality and routine of sleep as well. Regrettably, many individuals neglect these aspects, impacting their overall well-being.

    ,   and  Administrator