Sudan conflict disrupts cancer care, endangering patients

The intensifying conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has escalated since April 2023, is severely compromising the country’s already fragile health system and placing cancer patients at heightened risk. According to the World Health Organization and the Sudanese Ministry of Health, more than half of the nation’s oncology units have been forced to suspend services, while several major hospitals have been damaged or rendered inaccessible by fighting and curfews.

Disruptions to supply chains have led to acute shortages of chemotherapy drugs, hormonal therapies, and essential supportive medicines, forcing clinicians to delay or modify treatment protocols for thousands of patients. Radiation therapy centers in Khartoum and Darfur report intermittent power outages and damage to equipment, resulting in treatment interruptions that can diminish therapeutic effectiveness. Moreover, the displacement of civilians has crowded temporary shelters, increasing exposure to infections for immunocompromised individuals, while the destruction of transport infrastructure hampers patients’ ability to reach the few functional oncology facilities that remain operational.

Health officials and international aid agencies warn that without immediate protection of medical facilities and the establishment of secure corridors for medical supplies, cancer outcomes in Sudan could deteriorate sharply. Coordinated humanitarian assistance, including the provision of chemotherapy agents and the repair of radiotherapy equipment, is being called for to mitigate the crisis and ensure continuity of care for vulnerable patients.