Mukjar, October 07 (Darfur24)
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned that about 100,000 people in Mukjar, Central Darfur State, and surrounding areas face difficulties accessing healthcare amid limited humanitarian operations and growing medical needs.
The organization said recurring violence between local communities in Mukjar has at times escalated into armed clashes, further increasing the population’s healthcare needs.
Following an initial assessment by its teams in June, MSF found that only a limited number of humanitarian organizations were operating in the area. Since August 2, the organization has been working with the Ministry of Health at Mukjar Hospital, focusing on children under five, emergency cases and vaccination services.
MSF said its outpatient clinics treated nearly 2,000 patients in August alone, most of whom were suffering from diarrhoea, skin diseases and malaria.
The organization said Mukjar lacks surgical and obstetric services, while routine vaccination campaigns are not being conducted. It also said only one of the seven water stations serving the area is currently operational.
High transportation costs are another barrier to healthcare, preventing many families from reaching the hospital, according to MSF.
Sebastian Travicanti, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Darfur, said humanitarian presence in Mukjar remains very limited, leaving many residents unable to afford healthcare, while children miss routine vaccinations and families struggle to access safe water.
Travicanti warned that without urgent support, the situation could contribute to the spread of preventable diseases and further loss of life.