SW News: The World Health Organization (WHO) warns about Sudan's surging death rates due to the outbreak of illness and lack of essential services. In a media briefing, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that fighting has shut down hospitals and other vital services, leaving many people isolated in their homes with decreasing food and water supplies.
Dr. Tedros said, "On top of the number of deaths and injuries caused by the conflict, the WHO expects many more deaths due to disease outbreaks, lack of access to food and water, and disruption to essential health services, including immunization."
He went on to say that only 16% of health facilities in Khartoum were operational. The major risk to Sudanese was a lack of clean water and immunizations, as well as other sanitary difficulties, Dr. Tedros added.
Separately, the UN health agency conducted a risk assessment to establish whether the seizure of a pathogen-containing laboratory in Khartoum threatened Sudanese public health earlier this week.
The most recent statistics from the WHO said fighting that broke out between the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15 has resulted in at least 459 deaths and 4,072 injuries. According to Dr. Tedros, access to primary hemorrhage treatment may have spared one-quarter of the lives lost. However, paramedics, nurses, and doctors cannot reach injured civilians, and citizens cannot receive assistance. Since the commencement of the violence, the WHO has documented 14 attacks on medical institutions, killing many.
Meanwhile, despite the SAF and the RSF declaring a 72-hour ceasefire, fighting was reported in various regions. However, the security situation in the North African country has drastically deteriorated, forcing numerous nations to evacuate their nationals and officials.