A dialysis centre in Sudan's Blue Nile State has suspended operations after a drone attack on a power facility disrupted electricity supplies. The attack on a power generation station on Tuesday evening disrupted electricity supplies to Damazin, the state capital, the nearby city of Roseires and several other areas. This has forced the centre to halt operations, leaving patients with kidney failure without access to life-sustaining treatment.
The attack has been blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the army since April 2023. The RSF has been involved in a conflict with the Sudanese army for over a year, causing widespread instability and damage to critical infrastructure. The closure of the dialysis centre has raised concerns about the health of patients who depend on regular dialysis sessions and have few alternatives for accessing treatment elsewhere.
Patients face significant challenges in seeking treatment elsewhere, including fuel shortages, limited transport options and the high cost of travelling to other areas where dialysis services may be available. Abdul-Rahim Hussein, a patient at the centre, described the difficulties facing those who rely on the facility for treatment. He expressed his desperation, saying, "We are asking for nothing except from God."
Activists reported that one patient with kidney failure died around the time the centre suspended operations. Abdul-Rahman Al-Tayyib, who accompanies one of the patients, appealed to charitable organisations and individuals to help provide alternative sources of electricity to keep the centre operational. He suggested that solar energy or a dedicated direct electricity line to the centre could ensure its continuity.
Bakri Al-Amin, an activist with the Al-Hawadith Street Initiative in Damazin, called on civil society groups, international organisations and the regional government to urgently provide alternative energy sources to enable the centre to resume operations. He emphasised that the centre's closure has further worsened conditions for patients dependent on dialysis. The disruption highlights the vulnerability of essential healthcare services to attacks on critical infrastructure.
The situation is dire for patients who rely on the dialysis centre for treatment. With few alternatives available, patients are facing a life-threatening crisis. The centre's closure has also raised concerns about the ability of healthcare facilities to operate effectively in areas affected by conflict. There was no immediate comment from the relevant authorities on the centre's closure.
The international community has been urged to take action to address the crisis. The closure of the dialysis centre is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of conflict on civilians, particularly those who rely on essential healthcare services.
Key points
- A drone attack on a power facility in Sudan's Blue Nile State has disrupted electricity supplies, forcing a dialysis centre to halt operations.
- The attack has been blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the army since April 2023.
- Patients face significant challenges in seeking treatment elsewhere, including fuel shortages, limited transport options and the high cost of travelling to other areas where dialysis services may be available.
