A donation of $100,000 has been made by the Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS) to its Sudanese counterpart as part of ongoing international humanitarian relief efforts.
The contribution will support the Sudanese Red Crescent Society in acquiring specialised equipment aimed at combating epidemics in regions facing a high prevalence of disease outbreaks linked to environmental pollution.
“This support aims to strengthen health response capacities, contribute to curbing the spread of diseases and protect the most vulnerable groups, particularly children and the elderly,” said the BRCS yesterday.
Tens of thousands of Sudanese people have fallen victim to dengue fever and other diseases, Sudan’s health minister said, as seasonal rains further test infrastructure and hospitals devastated by conflict.
As millions of people displaced by fighting return to their homes in Sudan while others continue to flee, the unusually high spread of diseases like dengue fever, cholera and malaria this year highlights the hidden costs of almost 30 months of war.
The conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has resulted in what is widely considered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, driving widespread famine and mass displacement. Despite recent gains by the army, including the recapture of the capital Khartoum and several other regions, the fighting shows no signs of abating.
BRCS secretary general Mubarak Al Hadi affirmed that the donation reflects the society’s continued efforts to support Sudanese people and stand alongside them during the current circumstances.
“Providing humanitarian assistance, in co-operation with sister national societies, remains a top priority for the Bahrain Red Crescent Society, in line with the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,” added Mr Al Hadi.
“We remain fully committed to fulfilling our humanitarian role by delivering relief to affected communities, offering essential support in the fields of health and emergency response, and contributing to strengthening community resilience in the face of health and environmental challenges.”
Bahrain’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Jamal Al Rowaiei, participated on Tuesday in a United Nations Security Council briefing on the situation in Darfur, delivered by the International Criminal Court Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Khan.
Mr Al Rowaiei, in his statement, emphasised the importance of intensifying efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire and achieve an urgent political solution to the conflict in Sudan through dialogue and diplomacy.
He expressed the kingdom’s deep concern over the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Darfur region, which is witnessing a dangerous security escalation that has resulted in large numbers of civilian casualties, the destruction of infrastructure and civilian facilities and a severe deterioration in living conditions.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 20 million people require health assistance and 21m desperately need food. An estimated 33.7m people will need humanitarian aid this year and more than one third of health facilities (37 per cent) remain non-functional, depriving millions of people of essential and lifesaving health services.
The health system has been severely damaged by ongoing fighting, increasingly deadly attacks on healthcare, mass displacement, lack of essential medical supplies and shortages of health personnel and funding. An estimated 13.6m people are currently displaced, making Sudan the largest displacement crisis in the world.
WHO is currently supporting the response to outbreaks of cholera, dengue, malaria and measles, with cholera being reported from all 18 states, dengue from 14 states, and malaria from 16 states. Access to preventive and curative care, including for the management of chronic conditions and severe malnutrition, remains limited.
&uuid=(email))