North Darfur medics threaten strike after colleague attacked

The doctors at the hospital of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, have threatened to stage a 72-hour strike unless several conditions are met. Their conditions include putting an end to cases of abuse by government forces and militias. They also demand that the hospital no longer be used for the medical treatment of regular forces (army and police), and the militias including (the Rapid Support Forces, Border Guards and the Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira). The doctors also demand a ban on people carrying arms within the hospital, with the exception of an armed protection squad for the emergency unit. In a statement, 30 doctors raised a memorandum to the hospital’s Director General in protest against an attack by a military person on a woman doctor while she was performing her duty at the hospital on Sunday. They say that this is just the latest of several similar attacks by regular forces. This constitutes a direct threat while they are performing their humanitarian duty. Citizens in the state denounced the incident and demanded the North Darfur government and the Legislative Council to put an end to attacks on the doctors. File photo: Patients queue at the emergency unit of El Fasher hospital (Albert González Farran / Unamid) Related: Medics’ strike starts in Darfur’s Zalingei, ends in Nyala (2 November 2013) South Darfur doctors strike against repeated attacks (31 October 2014) Six striking West Darfur medics resign (22 October 2013)