South Belt Room: Another 12 Months of Resilience Amid Sudan’s War
Reported by: Muhannad Shawish
Like other emergency rooms scattered across many areas of the capital, Khartoum, and cities in states affected by the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the South Al-Hizam Emergency Room in South Khartoum has continued to provide services to thousands of citizens affected by the wars impact.
A Year of Hardship
The South Al-Hizam area, which includes neighborhoods such as Mayo, Al-Azhari, Al-Salama, and Eid Hussein, endured a challenging year security-wise. The frequency of artillery and aerial bombardments increased, with indiscriminate shelling claiming the lives of more than 240 civilians and injuring hundreds. Additionally, hundreds succumbed to diseases, while tens of thousands were afflicted with infectious diseases and epidemics between January 1 and the time of this report.
The bombardment caused mass displacement and the collapse of livelihoods. Most hospitals ceased operations, and water and electricity were cut off. The area faced acute shortages of essential goods, soaring prices, and the cessation of community kitchens (takaaya) that used to provide meals for civilians.
Security Situation
In early 2024, the escalation of artillery and aerial bombardment in the South Al-Hizam area led to large waves of displacement due to insecurity.
January 11, 2024: Old Al-Salama was hit by artillery, killing ten civilians, according to the South Al-Hizam Resistance Committees in Khartoum. Air raids targeted RSF positions in the area.
Later in January: Shelling in the Al-Inqaz neighborhood killed a woman and injured a young man, per a statement from South Al-Hizam Emergency Room spokesperson Mohamed Abdullah Kandasha.
February 23: Artillery strikes killed seven civilians in Blocks 1, 3, and 4 of Al-Nahda, according to a statement by the emergency room.
The intensity of bombardment surged in November and December.
December 13: An airstrike targeted an Ammonia fuel station in the Trucks Area, killing four people and injuring 32.
The emergency room condemned this incident, stating that airstrikes increasingly threaten civilians lives and sow terror among residents.
Living Conditions
The war drastically affected living conditions, with central and local markets experiencing severe shortages and exorbitant prices. Traders faced extortion at RSF checkpoints, and commodity flows from other states to Khartoum were disrupted due to war-imposed restrictions.
As most residents lost their jobs, they relied heavily on community kitchens (takaaya) for free meals. However, these kitchens faced challenges, including inconsistent donor funding, which led to periodic shutdowns.
July 13: The South Al-Hizam Emergency Room announced the closure of all kitchens in Mayo, Al-Azhari, and Al-Salama due to a lack of funding and depleted supplies.
July 26: All kitchens in the Al-Azhari sector ceased operations.
September 29: The emergency room declared the closure of all kitchens in Al-Azhari, calling on donors to provide support to resume operations.
Health Situation
Most hospitals stopped functioning due to the conflict, except Bashair Hospital, which continues to operate under the management of Médecins Sans Frontières despite insecurity and military presence.
Epidemics such as cholera, malaria, and hemorrhagic fevers have spread unprecedentedly, causing numerous fatalities.
August 22: The emergency room reported 456 cholera cases and five related deaths.
September 17: It recorded 100 cases of dengue fever, with a weekly death toll of 20 people.
Bashair Hospital Doctors Strike
Bashair Hospital doctors went on an open-ended strike last Thursday after a gunman affiliated with the RSF opened fire inside the hospital. The strike included all departments, except for critical surgeries and nutrition care, as stated by the emergency room.
This was not the first strike.
November 13: Doctors protested after armed RSF personnel stormed the emergency department, resulting in the death of an RSF member, according to the emergency room.
South Al-Hizam has faced dire conditions this year due to artillery and aerial bombardment, leading to the collapse of livelihoods and mass displacement. The area urgently requires safe corridors for humanitarian aid and immediate international intervention to protect civilians.
