Darfur Joint Protection Force ceases aid deliveries amidst ‘healthcare collapse’ warnings

Medical sources in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, warned that the health sector in the city is “on the verge of collapse”, amid near-catastrophic conditions caused by a lack of medicines and medical supplies, following the withdrawal of the Darfur Joint Protection Force from the state. In South Darfur, a medical aid convoy “donated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)” reached the state capital, Nyala, yesterday.

The Darfur Joint Protection Force, which withdrew from El Fasher last November, have now completely stopped securing aid convoys from Port Sudan to El Fasher, due to renewed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the North Darfur capital.

A doctor from El Fasher told Radio Dabanga that hospitals and specialised centres have faced a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies “since the Darfur Joint Force ceased aid deliveries”.

Medical facilities in the city were provided with limited quantities of medicines by the state, the doctor said, adding the supplies “will not last long”.

Diabetes and dialysis centres in the state capital face a shortage of gloves, gauze, insulin, and materials for minor surgeries. “The centres are mainly run by community efforts”, the medic noted, as he advocated for the return of the Darfur Joint Protection Force to El Fasher.

On February 22, the Darfur Network for Human Rights warned that El Fasher is witnessing “an intricate and dire humanitarian crisis as a violent conflict tightly grips the region”.

South Darfur

In Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, a convoy carrying paediatric and maternity medical supplies was successfully delivered “with the help of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)”.

El Bashir Daoud, head of the Sudan Central Doctors Committee and a member of the RSF Advisory Board, told Radio Dabanga that the convoy was dispatched to fulfil the supply requirements of doctors at state hospitals in Nyala.

“These doctors have been voicing concerns about a severe shortage of medicines. Upon their request, the RSF generously donated the convoy,” stated Daoud.

“Subsequent convoys will be dispatched to other states in Darfur following assessments of their healthcare needs”, he added.

As reported by Radio Dabanga on February 6, the Camps Administration for Displaced People in South Darfur called on Minni Minawi, governor of the Darfur region, as well as the Darfur Joint Protection Force, to fully coordinate with the army and RSF to enable the delivery of aid, blocked by insecurity on the roads.