Khartoum, October 15 (Darfur24)
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reduced its medical team at Bashair Hospital, south of Khartoum, after an armed member of a military group allied with the Sudanese army assaulted hospital staff.
In a statement on Tuesday, MSF said that on October 10, two armed men entered the hospital’s emergency room with an injured patient. The gunmen threatened Ministry of Health staff, forcing them to evacuate the ward.
“One bullet was fired during the altercation. No MSF staff were present at the time, and no one was injured,” the organization said.
MSF added that the patient’s condition was stabilized and he was transferred the same day to another medical facility. Although the emergency room has since reopened, medical personnel remain in shock.
The organization announced that it has reduced the size of its medical team until firm security guarantees are in place, which the Ministry of Health is currently working to secure with the relevant authorities.
Armed intrusions into hospitals have become increasingly common across several Sudanese cities. On Monday evening, a gunman opened fire inside Atbara Teaching Hospital, killing three people and injuring six. The attack led to the complete closure of the hospital and nearby shops.