Khartoum: More than 40 hospitals and 244 health centers have returned to service in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, after being damaged or destroyed during the country's conflict, a local medical group said Wednesday. The Sudan Doctors Network noted that these facilities are now operational despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to Anadolu Agency, the Sudan Doctors Network stated that Khartoum's health sector experienced severe setbacks during the initial year of the war, with approximately 70% of hospitals becoming fully or partially non-operational due to shelling, looting, and supply shortages. Over 120 public and private hospitals were looted, causing further deterioration in health services and significantly reducing the capital's ability to cater to the increasing medical demands.
The medical group highlighted that key infrastructure suffered substantial damage, including the National Public Health Laboratory and the Central Blood Bank. This damage severely impacted diagnostic services and blood transfusions, escalating the risk of delays in treating critical and emergency cases.
In May 2025, the Sudanese army reported clearing Khartoum State of the RSF presence. Nevertheless, the Sudan Doctors Network revealed that the National Medical Supplies Fund incurred losses exceeding $500 million during the conflict, due to the destruction and looting of medicine warehouses, loss of transport fleets, and damage to administrative offices. Despite these setbacks, there was a noted partial improvement in medical supplies in 2025, with drug coverage reaching 80% and medicine availability at 88%, a significant rise from less than 40% the previous year.
The RSF maintains control over all five states of the Darfur region in the west, except for parts of North Darfur which remain under army control. The Sudanese army holds most of the remaining 13 states in the south, north, east, and center, including Khartoum. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions.