Since the start of 2024, one in six children admitted to Bashair University Hospital, located in the south of Khartoum, has been a victim of war. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) indicates that 16% of war wounded treated in this establishment are under 15 years old. These young patients often arrive with serious injuries caused by bullets, explosions or shrapnel. At the same time, cases of severe malnutrition among children are increasing sharply, which is causing growing concern among medical teams.
Bashair hospital, one of the few still functional in the region, has received more than 4,214 patients suffering from violence-related trauma. These injuries include gunshots, bombings and explosions. The facility, which provides emergency care, surgical procedures and maternal health services, operates under extremely difficult conditions.
Care hampered by blockades
Among the victims was Riyad, an 18-month-old boy. “Riyad was hit in the right side by a stray bullet while he was sleeping in the family home,” says Dr. Moeen, head of the MSF medical team. For four hours, doctors tried to stabilize the child. With considerable blood loss, his chances of survival were estimated at 50%. Although the team managed to stop the bleeding, the bullet remained lodged in his chest due to a lack of advanced surgical capabilities on site.
Bashair Hospital faces significant challenges. Since October 2023, access to surgical equipment has been hampered by a systematic blockade which complicates serious interventions. Furthermore, transporting patients out of the area is almost impossible: the roads are either destroyed or too dangerous due to the fighting. These restrictions also affect the treatment of severe burns, an increasingly common emergency following bomb attacks affecting civilians.
An alarming rise in malnutrition among children
“The closure of specialized centers worsens the situation. We are unable to meet certain critical needs,” emphasizes Dr. Moeen. In October, an explosion in a market near the hospital caused an influx of more than 30 injured people, including 12 children aged under 15. Among them, a 20-month-old girl seriously hit by shrapnel. “When we placed her on the x-ray table, a part of her skull, which was extremely fragile, came off,” the doctor recalls.
Luckily, the little one survived, but many others did not have this favorable outcome. At the same time, malnutrition is taking on dramatic proportions. Between October 19 and November 8, 4,186 women and children were screened in the hospital. Result: 1,500 cases of severe acute malnutrition and 400 cases of moderate malnutrition were diagnosed, indicating a rapid deterioration of the situation. Faced with this humanitarian crisis, health professionals are sounding the alarm.
A call to action to help children
“The population of Khartoum is living a real nightmare. Children are the main victims,” says Claire San Filippo, emergency coordinator for MSF. It urges parties to the conflict to respect the lives of civilians and ensure unhindered access to medical supplies for the country’s hospitals. As the fighting continues, humanitarian needs continue to rise. Medical teams on site, already overwhelmed, fear that the situation in Sudan will worsen further if urgent measures are not taken to protect vulnerable populations.
