Content warning: This article discusses traumatic injuries suffered by children.
KHARTOUM/BRUSSELS, November 18, 2024 — Approximately 1 in 6 war-wounded patients treated at Bashair Teaching Hospital in south Khartoum, Sudan, since January 2024 have been under the age of 15, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today. Many arrive with wounds from gunshots, blasts, or shrapnel.
MSF teams working alongside hospital staff have treated more than 4,214 patients for trauma injuries caused by violence. Of these, 16 percent were children under 15 years. This is one of the last functioning hospitals in south Khartoum. It provides emergency and surgical care as well as maternal health care services.
“Eighteen-month-old baby Riyad was brought to the emergency room after a stray bullet struck his right side while he was napping in his family’s home,” said Dr. Moeen*, MSF medical team leader. “The medical team fought for four hours to stabilize him. Due to the heavy loss of blood, the chances of him surviving the surgery were 50-50.”
The team was able to stop the bleeding, however the bullet remained lodged in his chest. It is unclear how long it will be before anything can be done, because the hospital does not have advanced surgical capacities. This is partly due to the systematic blockage of surgical supplies in Sudan since October 2023. Referring patients out of area is also very difficult, as transport routes are either destroyed or far too dangerous.
Deliberate blockages on the transport of medical supplies and medicines also mean that some procedures, such as treating severe burn injuries, are not possible. This is worrying as there is no fully functioning burn center left in Khartoum, and civilians are increasingly victims of bomb blasts.
Shrinking treatment options for mass casualties
In late October, more than 30 war-wounded patients were rushed to Bashair Teaching Hospital in one day following an explosion at a market less than half a mile away. Twelve of those brought to the emergency room were children under 15. Many had suffered burns and trauma wounds. One 20-month-old girl came in with shrapnel embedded deep inside her head. While the team carefully laid her on the X-ray table, part of the her fragile skullcap fell onto the table. “Cases like this are common,” Dr. Moeen said. “Thankfully that little girl survived. Others are not so lucky”.
Mass casualty events like this—when a large number of patients arrive in a short space of time—have become more frequent as the fighting in the city has intensified, Dr. Moeen explained. The few hospitals that continue to function are under immense pressure and medical staff are struggling to manage all the needs.
Malnutrition is a key concern
At the same time, the hospital has begun to see an increase in the number of children and pregnant women arriving at the hospital acutely malnourished. Without treatment, acute malnutrition can be life-threatening. Of the 4,186 women and children screened for malnutrition between October 19 and November 8, 2024, more than 1,500 were suffering from severe acute malnutrition and 400 were moderately malnourished.
“These figures of violence and malnutrition show the nightmare that people, including children, are experiencing in Khartoum," said Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency coordinator. "Parties to the conflict must ensure civilians are protected. Medical supplies should be allowed to reach all hospitals in Sudan."
MSF’s work in Sudan
Since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, over 500,000 people have sought medical care in MSF-supported hospitals, health facilities, and mobile clinics across Sudan. MSF is supporting and working in more than 12 health facilities in conflict-afflicted areas, including in Khartoum, areas experiencing high-intensity clashes. Between January and September 2024, MSF treated a total of 6,557 war-wounded patients across all our facilities in Sudan. With over 11 million people displaced, Sudan has become the largest displacement crisis in recent memory. MSF is active in 11 of Sudan's 18 states, delivering free medical aid to those who need it most.
*Name changed for privacy
