Zalingei, November 25(Darfur24) Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced on Tuesday that it is reducing its support for Zalingei Hospital (Central Darfur) following the death of one of its staff members, who worked for the Ministry of Health, during a shooting incident outside the hospital.
The organization said in a statement that the incident occurred on November 18 and also resulted in injuries to four other people. It called on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to guarantee the protection of health facilities and medical personnel.
The organization added that “following this incident, and for the second time this year, Doctors Without Borders has been forced to reduce its support at Zalingei Hospital to ensure the safety of its teams.”
Myriam El Aroussi, Doctors Without Borders’ emergency coordinator in Darfur, said: “Our teams cannot resume humanitarian activities until the Rapid Support Forces guarantee safe conditions for the protection of staff and patients. It is unacceptable that armed clashes are affecting medical facilities and humanitarian aid.”
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides vital services and support at Zalingei Hospital, including emergency care, surgery, pediatrics, emergency obstetrics, and neonatal care, as well as an inpatient ward and isolation tents for treating measles and cholera during outbreaks.
The statement noted that since the incident, MSF has maintained active and continuous contact with the Ministry of Health, community members, security forces, and various authorities to work on ensuring the protection of the health facility. It added, “During this withdrawal period, we will continue to provide support for staff and deliver medicines.”
This incident follows a previous suspension of the organization’s activities last August, when MSF halted all operations at the hospital after a grenade explosion inside the facility killed one person and injured five others, including a Ministry of Health employee.
Measles Outbreak
The organization said that the ongoing violence is disrupting access to healthcare for hundreds of people in need at a time when MSF was actively responding to a measles outbreak in the area.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced that it treated 850 measles patients between April 1 and November 20, 36% (310) of whom were suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which exacerbates the severity of the illness, according to the statement.
José Sánchez, MSF’s medical coordinator in Darfur, said: “Many of the patients we are treating are also suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which increases the risk of serious medical complications.”
The organization noted a worrying increase in measles cases over the past few months. Weekly rates have risen rapidly, from three cases in July to 22 in August, 43 in September, 57 in October, and 62 in November.