Sudan war: Medics raise alarm over high number of major surgeries from violent trauma
French non-governmental organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has raised concern over the rising number of victims affected by the Sudan war and the few staff available to cater to them.
According to MSF over 1,150 patients have so far received treatment from the organisation, a number that they have never treated before.
“This is a profoundly chaotic and violent situation that almost defies comparison. I cannot recall any time in recent years when MSF has treated anything like the number of trauma cases or done as many major surgeries as we have done in Khartoum,” said MSF Emergency Coordinator, Raphael Veicht.
In the five weeks since the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, 906 of the 1,150 patients treated by MSF are said to have suffered violent trauma.
Of the trauma patients received, 395 suffered gunshot wounds, including children younger than five years old.
Another 266 suffered blast wounds caused by explosions, for example from shelling or airstrikes.
A rise in violence has also been experienced in Sudan due to crime and lawlessness with 183 patients being admitted with stab wounds and 62 being victims of assault.
MSF says they have performed 379 surgical procedures so far with eight percent of the patients undergoing surgery being children under the age of 15.
The NGO appealed for more staff in Khartoum to assist in performing procedures.
“The needs are huge and the fighting and violence show no signs of ending. We urgently need to be able to bring in more staff to be able to keep providing life-saving emergency and surgical care,” said Will Harper, MSF Head of Mission in Sudan.
The reported death toll in Sudan has topped 2,000 according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project’s latest figures.
The fighting has driven 2.2 million people from their homes, including 528,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the International Organisation for Migration.