Khartoum, Sudan — Bashair Hospital, situated in the southern part of Khartoum and known for offering critical, free medical services, is facing an untenable situation due to escalating violence in the area. In the words of San Filippo, a hospital representative, the dire security conditions have made it increasingly dangerous for staff and patients alike, with the persistent threat causing the hospital to consider halting its operations.
Since late September, Bashair Hospital has been overwhelmed with a surge in patients suffering from violent trauma injuries amidst intensifying conflict. The hospital frequently receives large groups of casualties following airstrikes and shelling of nearby residential zones and marketplaces. On a particularly grim day, January 5, 2025, the emergency room dealt with 50 new injuries, 12 of whom were pronounced dead upon arrival, following an airstrike in close proximity to the hospital.
Adding to the strain, the facility has noted a rise in pediatric and maternity cases as nearby health institutions either partially shut down or entirely ceased operations. Bashair Hospital has also been combating outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and dengue, alongside treating severe cases of malnutrition.
Previously, in October 2023, the hospital was forced to suspend all surgical procedures temporarily when vital surgical supplies were cut off by the Sudanese Armed Forces. This blockade has even extended to the transportation of both medical supplies and the movement of medical staff for over a year, significantly hampering the hospital’s operations.
The recent issues mirror challenges faced in July of the previous year when Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was compelled to suspend medical services at the nearby Turkish Hospital due to similar threats and violent incidents against its staff. The recurrence of such disruptions underscores a critical and ongoing access issue to healthcare amidst the chaos of war.
Between May 2023 and December 2024, after medical staff and volunteers had managed to reopen Bashair Hospital, the facility treated a staggering 25,585 emergency patients. Of these, more than 9,000 cases were directly related to violence, including blast and gunshot wounds. Moreover, the overwhelmed hospital staff completed 3,700 surgical operations, predominantly for injuries caused by the conflict, and facilitated nearly 3,800 childbirths, including 850 caesarian sections.
Although MSF continues to operate in 11 other states across Sudan, including in Omdurman within Khartoum State, the hope remains to restore and resume full medical activities at Bashair Hospital. The continuation of such essential service hangs in balance, hinged on the possibility of securing a safe environment for both healthcare providers and the patients who desperately rely on their services.
San Filippo expressed deep concern about the potential cessation of medical services at Bashair Hospital, emphasizing the increasing and urgent medical needs of the population. She highlighted the vital role hospitals play as safe havens for healthcare and the critical need for medical professionals to perform their duties without fearing for their own safety.
As violence persists and the future remains uncertain, the decision to suspend operations at Bashair Hospital, while heart-wrenching, may become an unavoidable reality if the security situation does not improve. For now, the hospital and its dedicated staff continue to push against the odds, aiming to provide life-saving care in the midst of turmoil.