The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said over 400 people have been killed and more than 3,500 others have been injured in the ongoing fighting in Sudan, reported The Economic Times. The country has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country’s regular army and a paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces for the past week.
“Four hundred and thirteen people have died and 3,551 people have been injured… that we know of,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters at a press briefing in Geneva.
At least nine children were among the dead and over 50 children had been injured in the fighting, according to the UN Children’s agency UNICEF.
Citing Sudanese Health Ministry figures, Harris said 20 health facilities had ceased functioning and another 12 were at risk of becoming non-functional due to limited medical equipment, and supplies. There also have been attacks on health facilities, health personnel, and ambulances.
The WHO spokeswoman noted that the shutting down of health facilities would not only affect the people who have been injured but also the people who needed treatment before.
“It’s taking a devastating toll on the country’s children,” UNICEF spokesman James Elder told reporters. “As long as fighting continues, children will continue to pay the price.
Elder added that many families are trapped due to the ongoing fighting with little or no access to electricity, terrified of running out of food, water, and medicine.
He said Sudan had one of the highest child malnutrition rates in the world, with critical life-saving care now affected for an estimated 50,000 severely acutely malnourished children due to the ongoing fighting.
In related news, on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials to prepare contingency evacuation plans for about 3,000 Indian citizens stuck in the conflict-ridden country.
The United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Japan, and South Korea are among the countries that are moving in to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.
