Al-Burhan in Omdurman… Challenges of Life Returning to the Military Operations Management Headquarters

In a tour inside the city of Omdurman in Khartoum State, Sudanese Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan inspected the provision of services to citizens, following the stabilization of the situation and the return of life to normal in a wide geographical area, in addition to his routine follow-up on military operations.

The Transitional Sovereign Council stated in a press release on Saturday that Al-Burhan confirmed the state’s support for Khartoum State’s efforts to strengthen the health sector, praising “the heroic role of the workers in it, who provide services under the conditions of war, whether in safe areas or areas where the enemy is present.”

During his visit to the Ministry of Health headquarters in Khartoum State and the “Al-Balk” Hospital in Omdurman, accompanied by General Yaser Al-Atta, Sovereign Council Member and Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, and Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza, Al-Burhan indicated that the visit came in appreciation of the ministry’s efforts and its role in controlling epidemics despite the challenges of the war.

Al-Burhan praised the efforts of the Federal Minister of Health to develop health institutions. He also thanked the sisterly and friendly countries for their continued support of the health sector.

For his part, Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza explained that the state is working to compensate for the closure of many health institutions due to damage, by completing the construction of new hospitals and health centers and expanding and rehabilitating existing hospitals, such as the Al-Nou and Al-Balk hospitals, to become reference hospitals.

He confirmed that current challenges include restoring hospital services in areas that have been liberated, with a need for funding for rehabilitation and infrastructure maintenance.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Emergency Health Committee in Khartoum State, Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, reviewed a performance report on health during the war period, noting that the indicators exceeded expectations according to World Health Organization standards.

He explained that the number of operational hospitals currently stands at 31 out of 54, in addition to operating 158 health centers out of 243. He also announced the treatment of more than 33,000 wounded and the completion of 22,000 free surgeries to remove gunshot wounds, confirming control over epidemics and the ministry’s readiness to operate three new hospitals.

Since November 2, civil society organizations have reported signs of life returning to Old Omdurman, mentioning the reopening of several businesses and the return of some bakeries to operation on 40th Street in Omdurman for the first time in more than a year and a half.

Media reports and voluntary organizations stated that, despite the increasing number of returnees to Omdurman, the random shelling of the city from time to time, food shortages, and the spread of diseases pose a significant challenge, especially for residents in areas not yet controlled by the army. Additionally, the rising prices of food and the loss of income sources, along with limited financial resources, have destabilized many families.

On August 6, the Assistant to the Sudanese Army Commander, Yaser Al-Atta, revealed that Al-Burhan planned to lead military operations from Omdurman.

Al-Burhan left the General Command headquarters in Khartoum on August 24, 2023, and headed to Port Sudan in the east of the country, which has become a temporary center for managing the country’s affairs.

At that time, Al-Atta stated before a crowd of soldiers in the Omdurman military area that “Al-Burhan asked to prepare a headquarters for him here, to come and lead the operations himself, and it has been prepared.”

On Saturday, Al-Burhan also paid a visit to the Coptic Church on Al-Shinqiti Street in Omdurman.

He was received by Father Yohanna Antony, Priest of St. George’s Church and St. Mina’s Church.

During the visit, Al-Burhan met with several priests and listened to a report on the damage sustained by the Coptic Church due to acts of vandalism and looting carried out by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia against places of worship.

The Chairman of the Sovereign Council affirmed his commitment to rehabilitating the church and its attached facilities and restoring them to their original condition.

The press release issued by the Sovereign Council also stated that Al-Burhan “paid a visit to the headquarters of the Central Reserve Forces in Omdurman and reviewed the readiness of the forces and their preparedness to confront the rogue elements of the rebellious militia of Al-Daglo.”

Al-Burhan praised the heroic role of the Central Reserve Forces in confronting the enemy, highlighting the tremendous sacrifices they made for the security and stability of Sudan.