MSF: Militia Detains Supply Trucks on their way to El Fasher
Sudan Events – Follow-ups
MSF accused on Thursday the Rapid Support Forces RSF of detaining supply trucks in Kabkabiya, North Darfur state, which were on their way to El Fasher.
MSF said in a statement that “the Rapid Support Forces RSF have detained the organization’s supply trucks in Kabkabiya over the past four weeks, which could soon shut down the Saudi hospital in El Fasher.”
The head of MSF’s emergency response in Sudan, Stephane Doyon, indicated that the detained trucks left the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, more than 6 weeks ago, and were supposed to arrive in El Fasher by then.
He added: “We only have enough surgical equipment left in El Fasher to treat 100 people, and if the number of victims continues to rise at the current rate, these supplies will soon run out.”
Doyon stated that the trucks carry supplies to the Saudi hospital, therapeutic food, and medical supplies for children in Zamzam camp, which is suffering from a catastrophic malnutrition crisis.
“There is only enough therapeutic food left for a few more weeks, and many children in Zamzam camp are already on the verge of death.
If the blockade on aid is not lifted, there will be more deaths,” he continued.
MSF has warned that repeated attacks on health facilities in El Fasher are adding to the city’s high death toll.
The organization said that since the conflict broke out in El Fasher, more than 2,170 wounded people have been treated in hospitals it supports, while more than 300 have died from their wounds.
It affirmed that with more wounded continuing to arrive at the Saudi hospital and the Rapid Support Forces RSF holding up the organization’s supply trucks in Kabkabiya, medicines will quickly run out, putting life-saving activities at further risk.
“We do not know if hospitals are being deliberately targeted, but Monday’s incident shows that the warring parties are taking no precautions to spare them.
They are making no effort to prevent the killing of civilians and ensure the protection of patients and medical workers,” said Stephane Doyon.
He added: “The warring parties are aware of the location of the Saudi hospital, and are also well aware that it is the last remaining public hospital in the city capable of treating the wounded.”
