GENEVA: The World Health Organization expressed concern on Tuesday following reports that over 5,000 civilians and over 70 medical professionals were being held in Nyala, in southwest Sudan. Tens of thousands of people have died, 12 million more have been homeless, and infrastructure has been destroyed in the bloody struggle between Sudan’s regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on X, “We are concerned by reports from Nyala, the capital of Sudan’s South Darfur state, that more than 70 health care workers are being forcibly detained along with about 5,000 civilians.
The head of the UN health agency stated, “The detainees are being held in cramped and unhealthy conditions, and there are reports of disease outbreaks,” according to the Sudan Doctors Network. Earlier this year, the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North branch joined forces to form a Nyala-based coalition.
More details about the detentions and conditions of those detained are being gathered by WHO. The persistent insecurity complicates the situation, according to Tedros. It is quite alarming that thousands of individuals have been detained, including health personnel. We demand the safe and unconditional release of health workers and civilians, who should always be protected.
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