Nations United Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemns looting of life-saving supplies for children from Al Bashair hospital in Khartoum State
UNICEF condemned the robbery of vital humanitarian supplies in its strongest way, which aims to save the lives of malnourished children and provide critical health care to mothers and newborns at Jabal Awlia Al Bashair Hospital in Hartum. The robbery included at least 2,200 cartons of ready-made therapeutic foods (RUTFs), putting the lives of more than 2,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) at risk.
In the outskirts of the capital Khartoum, the robbery of Al Bashair Hospital, the last-run medical institution, was an already serious humanitarian disaster for children and families in the region. Commercial supplies and humanitarian aid have been blocked for more than three months due to ongoing conflict along key routes. The result is a severe lack of food, medicine and other essentials, with thousands of civilians trapped in active combat. More than 4,000 people have been forced to flee Khartoum.
“Theft of stealing life-saving supplies for malnutrition children is outrageous and directly attacks their survival,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “These unreasonable acts against vulnerable children must end. All parties must comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access with those in need.”
Jabal Awlia is also one of 17 regions at risk of famine, according to the latest update to the Integrated Food Security Stage Classification (IPC), which has lost more than 100,000 acutely malnourished children. The plundered iron and folic acid supplement was designated as 6,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women. The stolen midwife kit and primary health care supplies will provide 132,980 mothers, newborns and children to areas with extremely limited access to health care.
UNICEF managed to deliver these critical supplies on 20 December 2024, marking the first successful humanitarian shipment to Jabal Awlia in 18 months. These losses of supplies, coupled with the forced suspension of humanitarian operations due to worsening security conditions, brings children closer to disaster.
Sudan is already facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. More than 24.6 million people (more than half of the population) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity. The collapse of health services, school closures for 17 million children and record levels of child displacement have caused unprecedented emergencies.
UNICEF reiterates its urgent appeal:
- Unhindered humanitarian contact with children and families in need.
- Protect hospitals and other civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law.
- Immediately and safely ensure that frontline workers provide life-saving assistance.
UNICEF remains committed to supporting children in Sudan and will continue to work with partners to resume access to essential services. However, emergency funding and improved safety conditions are needed to maintain operations and prevent further loss of life.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund).
