UNICEF Condemns Looting of Life-Saving Supplies from Al Bashair Hospital Amid Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan.
Port Sudan:
UNICEF has strongly condemned the looting of vital humanitarian supplies from Al Bashair Hospital in Jabal Awlia, Khartoum, which has jeopardized the lives of thousands of malnourished children and mothers. The looted supplies, including 2,200 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), were intended to treat children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and to provide essential healthcare to mothers and newborns in the region. The incident has left over 2,000 children at immediate risk of death from malnutrition.
Al Bashair Hospital, one of the few remaining medical facilities in Jabal Awlia, has been severely impacted by ongoing conflict. The hospital was supplying critical healthcare to a population already grappling with extreme food and medicine shortages. The looted items were meant to support over 100,000 children facing acute malnutrition in the region, as well as provide necessary healthcare for 6,000 pregnant and lactating women. The stolen medical supplies, including iron and folic acid supplements, midwife kits, and primary healthcare supplies, were crucial for addressing the dire health needs of mothers and children, particularly in a region where healthcare services are already limited.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed outrage over the incident, stating, “Stealing life-saving supplies meant for malnourished children is outrageous and a direct attack on their survival. These unconscionable acts against vulnerable children must end. All parties must adhere to international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to those in need.”
The looting of Al Bashair Hospital has exacerbated the already devastating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where ongoing conflict has blocked humanitarian aid shipments for over three months. The blockade has severely disrupted the flow of food, medicine, and other essentials to those in need, and thousands of civilians have been displaced as a result of the fighting. The situation in Jabal Awlia is particularly dire, with the region also listed as one of the 17 localities facing the risk of famine, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update.
The stolen supplies are just the latest in a series of setbacks for humanitarian efforts in Sudan. UNICEF had successfully delivered the critical supplies to Al Bashair Hospital on 20 December 2024, marking the first successful shipment to Jabal Awlia in over 18 months. However, the worsening security situation has forced the suspension of many humanitarian operations, further escalating the crisis for Sudan’s most vulnerable populations.
Sudan is currently experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 24.6 million people—more than half the population—suffering from acute food insecurity. The collapse of healthcare services, the closure of schools affecting 17 million children, and the displacement of millions have created an unprecedented emergency.
UNICEF has called for immediate action to address the crisis, including:
- Unimpeded humanitarian access to reach children and families in need.
- Protection of hospitals and civilian infrastructure, in line with international humanitarian law.
- Security guarantees for frontline workers delivering life-saving aid.
UNICEF remains committed to supporting children and families in Sudan and is working with partners to restore access to essential services. However, continued humanitarian assistance requires urgent funding and improved security conditions to prevent further loss of life and mitigate the impact of this devastating crisis.
