5-11 April 2026 Sudan News Summary: hospital attacks, return to Khartoum, and three years of war

12 Apr

Arabic news roundup

By William Greenwood

In Sudan’s East Darfur and North Kordofan states, a grim picture of the collapsing health system is emerging, with medical facilities unable to function amid escalating drone attacks and widespread displacement.
Testimonies gathered by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) from doctors and health workers paint a picture of a reality that grows harsher by the day, revealing critical gaps in access to life-saving care.
In El Daein, East Darfur, a drone attack forced the main teaching hospital to shut down completely.
El Obeid, which hosts large numbers of displaced people, is facing repeated attacks that have directly impacted health facilities, including El Obeid Maternity Hospital, the only referral hospital in western Sudan.
The suffering is not limited to patients; it also extends to health workers who continue to work despite the harsh conditions, and with shortages of supplies some midwives are forced to bear the costs themselves.

Officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and the Khartoum State Ministry of Health discussed on Friday the reactivation of health facilities and the fight against dengue fever in preparation for the return of residents to the state.
According to the International Organisation for Migration's latest report, more than 1.6 million people from Khartoum State have returned after displacement and refuge, amidst challenges related to health and education services.
The Khartoum State Ministry of Health has begun maintenance and reopening procedures for the Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital and the Eye Hospital in Khartoum.
The Federal Ministry of Health, through the General Directorate of Health Emergencies and Epidemic Control, received 26 tons of medicines and intravenous fluids from the World Health Organisation as part of preparations for autumn emergencies and the response to dengue fever.

By Samuel Hunt

A Financial Times report highlights how community-run “emergency response rooms”, volunteer-led networks set up in neighbourhoods, are providing frontline healthcare, food distribution and evacuation support, sustaining basic services in the absence of formal systems.
A UN briefing cited by AP News reports that around 130 humanitarian workers have been killed in Sudan since the conflict began in 2023, underscoring the risks faced by those delivering aid.
WHO and UNICEF warn of escalating attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with multiple incidents in early 2026 causing deaths and injuries and further limiting access to care.

Sources: FT, AP, UN

As Sudan reaches the three-year mark of conflict, UN officials warn the crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with violence ongoing, civilians under constant threat and famine risks rising across multiple regions.
Médecins Sans Frontières says three years of war have “shattered Sudan’s lifelines”, with healthcare, food systems and basic services collapsing and preventable diseases spreading amid restricted humanitarian access.
Aid agencies warn that needs continue to grow while funding and access fall short, leaving civilians without sufficient food, healthcare or protection and prolonging one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Bill Greenwood