03 May 2023
We, the undersigned, are writing to you to join the call of the Sudan Doctors Union (SDU-UK) to stand in solidarity with the innocent unarmed civilians in Sudan. Since the 15th of April 2023, an armed conflict between the military and paramilitary has erupted in the capital Khartoum and other cities in Sudan. The death toll is getting worse, and the number of serious casualties is reported to be in thousands.
As health workers in the national health service in the UK, we are aware that a large number of Sudanese colleagues are following the dire situation in their home country with serious concerns.
Almost 70% of health facilities are out of action in the capital either due to direct air strikes or the inability of the health workers to reach hospitals. Despite announcing temporary periods of ceasefire, this agreement was not implemented, and there are no safe corridors for health workers to reach hospitals or primary health facilities. Direct attacks on hospitals and pre hospital ambulances by security forces are affecting safe access to health. A serious medication shortage is emerging in Sudan.
What is further alarming is the direct bombing of local pharmaceutical factories in Khartoum. There are ongoing calls by the civilians on social media platforms for important lifesaving medication, e.g., insulin. The short and the medium-term impact of the damage of this armed conflict on the screening programs, vaccination programs, antenatal care, malnutrition, and TB care, amongst others, is expected to be really severe.
As civilians flee their home seeking safe shelter, an evolving refugees’ emergency situation is being reported at the northern and eastern borders of Sudan. We are reaching out to the UK government and NHS bodies, and the relevant agencies to:
▪️ stand in solidarity with the civilians in Sudan and those stranded in the borders to ensure their safety and wellbeing
▪️ support diplomatic efforts for ceasefire and to ensure safe passage and corridors to and from Khartoum to access health and basic needs
▪️ facilitate medical deployment to the borders to avoid a humanitarian crisis in collaboration with British partners on the ground
▪️ provide wellness services to Sudanese health workers in NHS in such critical times
Signatories:
– APNA NHS (Asian Professionals NHS Alliance)
– APPNE (Association of Pakistani Physicians of Northern Europe)
– BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin)
– BBPA (British Bangladeshi Psychiatrists Association)
– BEMA (British Egyptian Medical Association)
– BIMA (British Islamic Medical Association)
– BIPA (British Indian Psychiatric Association)
– BPPA (British Pakistani Psychiatrists Association
– BSAPCH (British Sudanese Association of Paediatrics and Child Health)
– BSDO (British Sikh Doctors Organisation)
– BSN (British Sikh Nurses)
– BWIH (Black Women in Health)
– CamDocUK (Cameroon Doctors UK)
– MDA (Muslim Doctors Association)
– SDA (Sikh Doctors & Dentists Association)
– SDU-UK (Sudanese Doctors Union UK)
https://www.SDU.org.uk
For further information please contact Sudan Doctors’ Union UK President@sdu.org.uk
References
After 14 days of fighting in #Sudan:
▶️tens of thousands are displaced.
▶️fuel, water and food are scarce.
▶️in Khartoum, only 16% of health facilities are fully operating.Our latest update⤵️https://t.co/Yu0mLWa2rE pic.twitter.com/lCNqsFKiml
— UN OCHA Sudan (@UNOCHA_Sudan) April 28, 2023
Thread about: SUDAN’S CLASHES: CIVILIAN DEATH TOLL REACHES 303; INJURIES 1,848
The ongoing violent confrontation between the Sudanese armed forces and the para-military Rapid Support Forces continued to claim more innocent lives in its 12th day. pic.twitter.com/BxsQHlcRpC— Sudanese Translators for Change STC (@SudaneseTc) April 28, 2023
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-04-27/sudanese-doctor-in-uk-fears-for-her-relatives-fleeing-battle-zone
We’ve joined medical associations across the world in calling for an effective ceasefire in Sudan https://t.co/JTcsdo0JDW
— The BMA (@TheBMA) April 22, 2023
Sudanese people trapped inside their residences were dependent on internet to connect, receive health services, fetch medicines and plan safe passages @Meta @accessnow @netblocks #KeepEyesOnSudan pic.twitter.com/kGik9sryf1
— Governance Programming Overseas NGO (@GovernancePO) April 23, 2023
Today, I announced that @USAID is deploying a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the region to help deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to the people in Sudan affected by ongoing violence. https://t.co/q42THB4ijE
— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) April 23, 2023
https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/bma-appeals-for-an-end-to-hostilities-and-calls-for-medical-neutrality-in-sudan
https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/rcog-letter-of-support-to-sudan/
https://www.fph.org.uk/news-events/fph-news/faculty-of-public-health-statement-on-the-conflict-in-the-sudan/
https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/rcog-letter-of-support-to-sudan/
https://www.change.org/p/stop-war-in-sudan-and-bring-peace-now
#KeepEyesOnSudan