MSF Halts Medical Services at Khartoum Hospital Amid Ongoing Armed Attacks and Overwhelming Patient Needs

Khartoum, Sudan — Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced the suspension of medical services at Bashair Teaching Hospital amid continuous violent attacks on its patients and staff. The hospital, under the control of Rapid Support Forces, has been a point of frequent violent incidents, inhibiting safe healthcare provision in south Khartoum.

Over the past 20 months, MSF, alongside local hospital staff and volunteers, has regularly faced severe disruptions. Armed individuals have stormed the facility, demanding prioritization of fighters’ treatment over other critical patients and in several instances, actively endangered lives through the use of firearms. Notably, a patient was fatally shot inside the hospital premises in November 2024, and another violent episode in December saw multiple shots fired in the emergency ward.

Claire San Filippo, MSF Emergency Coordinator, expressed her concerns over the security situation, describing daily intense violence coupled with acute shortages of food and medical supplies that drastically hampered humanitarian efforts. “The reality we face here is dire, with armed violence being a part of everyday life. Ensuring safety while providing medical services under such conditions has become increasingly impossible,” San Filippo said.

Bashair Hospital, a critical facility providing free medical services, has become one of the last operational medical units in the region. Recently, it has witnessed a significant uptick in patients with violent-related injuries following local escalations in conflict. The hospital reported receiving large numbers of casualties simultaneously following nearby military actions, adding layers of complexity to the already strained medical services.

The deterioration in safety and operational functionality is not new to MSF in the region. Similar issues plagued the nearby Turkish Hospital, leading to a suspension last July after repeated threats and violent incidents targeting its medical staff. Moreover, logistical challenges have severely impacted the movement and availability of essential medical supplies and personnel.

San Filippo highlighted the broader impact of such suspensions, noting, “Every time an organization like ours halts operations, it directly diminishes the accessibility of critical healthcare services to those most in need. Ensuring the sanctity and safety of healthcare facilities is paramount for the welfare of both patients and healthcare providers.”

The initial decision by MSF to engage at Bashair Hospital was following its reopening by local medical staff and volunteers in May 2023, shortly after the onset of hostilities in the area. During its operational period, the hospital treated over 25,000 emergency cases, many due to violent injuries like blasts or gunshot wounds, and conducted thousands of surgeries and childbirth procedures.

While MSF’s activities in Bashair Hospital are currently halted, the organization remains active across 11 other states in Sudan, hoping for a future stabilization that would enable the resumption of their essential services at the facility. The ongoing conflict and its repercussions on healthcare services underline a critical humanitarian crisis that not only impacts immediate medical aid but also forecasts severe long-term consequences for the region’s public health infrastructure.