Cairo, 05 May 2023 – Thirty metric tons of urgently needed trauma and emergency surgical supplies arrived in Port Sudan today aboard a chartered flight from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Logistics Hub in Dubai. Pending security and access clearances, the supplies will be distributed to 13 health facilities across the country to assist in emergency surgical procedures and trauma care to treat 165,000 patients and re-establish emergency health care services for those in need. This is the first international delivery of WHO emergency supplies by air since conflict erupted in Sudan on 15 April plunging the nation into crisis and straining the health system to near-breaking limits.

Another shipment of 80 metric tons of emergency health supplies, including IV fluids, supplies for the treatment of traumatic injuries and kits for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition, was delivered by sea in Port Sudan a week ago.

“Medical supplies prepositioned by WHO prior to the conflict were quickly consumed due to the need created by the conflict. The arrival of these supplies will fill critical gaps in the health system until more supplies come in for a sustained response to the crisis,” said WHO Representative to Sudan, Dr Nima Saeed Abid, describing the urgent needs for medical supplies.

There was an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan prior to the escalation of violence as nearly 16 million people – one-third of the population – were already in need of humanitarian assistance with 50,000 children severely malnourished, and some 3.7 million people internally displaced, with the complex health needs that this situation always entails. Multiple disease outbreaks such as measles, malaria and dengue fever are also circulating.

Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean asserted, “The key challenge is to get these supplies to health facilities where they are needed. WHO remains committed to protecting the health of the people of Sudan in line with our vision of Health for All, by All, and we will continue to support the Sudanese health authorities through technical support and the provision of supplies using all available and safe pathways.”

The disruption in the availability of medicines and medical supplies will exacerbate the situation and place thousands at risk of severe illness and death. WHO stands with the people of Sudan through this crisis and remains committed to delivering its critical support to the health system. However, guarantees for safe access and humanitarian space is needed from parties to the conflict so that WHO can deliver these emergency medical supplies to the facilities that urgently need them for their life-saving operations.