MSF Suspends Activities at Zalingei Hospital

Zalingei – Sudanhorizon
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was forced to reduce its teams and suspend all activities at Zalingei Hospital in Central Darfur, Sudan, which is controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), following an armed attack inside the facility on the night of August 16.
The organization confirmed in a press release on Tuesday that the attack resulted in the death of one person and the injury of five others, including a Ministry of Health employee.
It noted that the suspension comes amid the outbreak of the deadly cholera epidemic. However, it stressed that it cannot resume operations until it receives clear security guarantees from all parties to protect staff and patients.
Although MSF has not disclosed the identity of the attackers, Central Darfur remains under the control of the RSF, particularly the capital, Zalingei.
A statement from the organization states that the attack on Zalingei Hospital occurred on the night of August 16, after a deceased person had been transferred from a gunshot wound. The death was reportedly caused by looting in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The victim was taken to the emergency room at around 8:20 p.m.
Relatives of the deceased forcibly entered the hospital. Shortly thereafter, another patient arrived with gunshot wounds, also accompanied by armed men.
Tensions escalated between groups accompanying the patients inside the facility, and at 10 p.m., a grenade exploded in front of the emergency room, killing one person. Five others were injured, including a Ministry of Health medical staff member.
“One person has already lost his life in this explosion,” said Marwan Tahir, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Darfur. “More could have been killed had the bombing occurred during the day, when the hospital would have been crowded with patients.” He added, “Suspending our activities and evacuating our teams is a decision no medical organization would want to make, but our staff cannot risk their lives while providing care.”
Since August, MSF has been leading an emergency cholera response at Zalingei Hospital, treating 162 patients in just 16 days, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health.
Cholera has claimed seven lives so far, and Zalingei Hospital is the only facility equipped to treat severe cases in Central Darfur.
MSF teams have also supported the State Ministry of Health in surveillance to contain the outbreak.
MSF says the protection of its medical teams is essential to ensure they can provide care.
It reports that in February 2024, armed men stormed Zalingei Hospital and looted MSF-rental vehicles, forcing an MSF assessment team to temporarily withdraw before resuming its activities.
The August 16 attack represents the second major security incident at Zalingei Hospital in a year and a half.
“Attacks on hospitals and medical personnel are unacceptable.” Tahir said. “It puts lives at risk,” he added. “The presence of weapons inside a medical facility makes it impossible for our teams to work safely.’’

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