بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"No to war, always for peace"

Brothers and sisters:

As a group of health and medical professionals, leaders, and pioneers of medical education, both inside and outside Sudan – Medics Sudan (www.medics-sd.org we have come together with different intellectual, cultural, and political orientations. We believe in a better future for Sudan, where human values, rights, justice, and peace prevail. In this challenging time of war with no winner, we send this message as the health system deteriorates and approaches collapse. Hundreds of doctors and health personnel are suffering and working tirelessly to fulfil their humanitarian and professional duty. Sadly, the loss of the medics' tribe has exceeded fourteen members, both including doctors and medical students.

The ongoing war has exacerbated the challenges faced by Sudan's fragile health system. Decades of neglect, including limited healthcare funding, mismanagement, and the migration of health personnel, have already weakened the system. As a result, public health indicators have significantly suffered, with increased maternal and child mortality, high rates of malnutrition and morbidity, and a rise in deaths caused by infectious diseases and epidemics.

Despite the variously declared truces, the security situation for medical and health personnel remains unchanged. Access to health facilities remains difficult, safe passages have not been established, and forensic medicine struggles to identify and bury bodies. This poses significant health risks, compounded by the problems exacerbated by the war. Health facilities have been violated, and health workers face abuse and threats, making providing health services a risky endeavour.

Brothers and sisters:

The ongoing conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds of innocent civilians, both directly and indirectly. Thousands have been injured and wounded, and the infrastructure has suffered severe damage. Essential services required for a decent life have been disrupted and halted due to the conflict.

The continuation of this war signifies an imminent national health disaster in both the short and long term. The lack of security has severely impacted access to health facilities and restricted the movement of healthcare workers. Consequently, routine public health services have ceased, including prenatal care, immunization, nutrition, and chronic disease management. Life-saving drugs, vaccines, and insecticides have become vulnerable to looting, theft, and deliberate destruction.

Furthermore, frequent disruptions in electrical supply and challenges in obtaining fuel have negatively affected the storage of medicines and vaccines, resulting in significant financial losses. The interrupted water supply has forced citizens to resort to unsafe drinking sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea. Improper water storage has also created breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, including those transmitting malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. Moreover, environmental sanitation services, waste treatment, and disease vector control deterioration have further exacerbated the situation. This deterioration increases the likelihood of spreading deadly epidemics due to poor sanitation practices and the lack of control measures. The combination of these factors paints a dire picture of the impact of the war on public health, highlighting the urgent need for intervention and support to prevent further devastation and the outbreak of deadly diseases.

On the other hand, patients with chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer, encounter highly challenging health conditions. This is primarily due to the difficulty in accessing specialized service centres, both public and private, the suspension of ambulance services, and the closure of many facilities due to the shortage of medical staff, medications, and medical supplies. Additionally, the lack of consistent electricity and a stable water supply poses further obstacles in ensuring the proper functioning of essential equipment and facilities. These circumstances exacerbate the suffering of these vulnerable segments of the Sudanese population and result in a noticeable increase in the mortality rate.

Brothers and sisters:

The ongoing fighting and its escalation only led to further suffering and aggravating the humanitarian crisis in the capital and the states. It is our responsibility to highlight the severity of the health conditions and the devastating impact of the war on women, children, and all aspects of life. We urge our fellow citizens and all relevant parties, both within and outside Sudan, to pay attention to these urgent matters and work towards finding solutions to alleviate the dire situation.

Therefore, it is our moral duty, driven by humanity, conscience, professionalism, and a genuine concern for the future of Sudan, for peace, security, and the well-being of its people. As Sudanese doctors representing various medical specialties both within the country and abroad, we solemnly declare our demand for an immediate end to this devastating war. We hold both parties accountable for ensuring the protection of civilians, establishing safe passages for ambulances and medical supplies, securing the safety of healthcare personnel, reopening hospitals, refraining from having military presence within healthcare facilities, and respecting the autonomy of healthcare professionals in carrying out their humanitarian duties. Furthermore, we urge that the proper identification and examination of the known and missing bodies is made possible, and we call for urgent support that enables the continuous provision of health and medical care.

We appeal to all parties involved in this war to respond to the initiatives for a lasting ceasefire. This will facilitate the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid and alleviate the suffering of the citizens. We urge all political forces to resolve the current political and military crisis through peaceful means and meaningful Sudanese dialogue.

Furthermore, we affirm our commitment to providing material and technical aid in the event of a ceasefire. We will actively contribute to reconstructing what has been destroyed by the war and rehabilitating health and medical institutions.

Once again, we emphatically reject war and advocate for urgent peace.

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