The Sudanese Medical Network has raised concerns over the continued detention of dozens of medical professionals and academics in Genina, the capital of West Darfur, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to the network, 47 medical professionals and 88 teachers and university professors are being held in several locations, including the former UNAMID mission headquarters, detention centers within the command of the 15th Infantry Division, and Ardamata prison.
The network warned that the continued detention of healthcare workers not only affects the detainees and their families but also impacts thousands of citizens who have been deprived of medical services, particularly in light of the ongoing deterioration of the healthcare sector and the acute shortage of qualified personnel in conflict zones. The situation has sparked fears for the safety and humanitarian and health conditions of those detained.
The network expressed deep concern over the humanitarian and health conditions in detention centers, citing reports of civilians, including women and children, being held in these locations. They called for allowing humanitarian and human rights organizations to visit the detainees, assess their conditions, and ensure their safety and access to necessary medical care.
The Sudanese Medical Network emphasized that medical professionals and healthcare workers enjoy special protection under humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law, stressing that any procedures related to them must be based on clear legal foundations that guarantee their rights and protect their safety and human dignity.
The network urged the RSF to disclose the whereabouts of all detainees, enable them to communicate with their families, provide necessary medical care, and release those against whom no recognized legal charges have been brought or who have not been subject to fair judicial procedures. They also called on the United Nations, international human rights organizations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intensify monitoring of detainees' conditions and exert pressure to ensure their safety and respect for their fundamental rights.
The continued detention of medical professionals and academics is expected to exacerbate the humanitarian and service crisis in the Darfur region, further complicating the challenges faced by local communities that rely on these professionals for healthcare and education services. The situation highlights the urgent need for intervention to address the plight of those detained and the broader humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Sudanese Medical Network's warnings underscore the critical need for international attention and action to address the detention of medical professionals and academics by the RSF in West Darfur. The international community is urged to take concrete steps to ensure the release of detainees and to hold parties responsible for violations accountable.
Key points
- 47 medical professionals detained in West Darfur's capital, Genina.
- 88 teachers and university professors also detained by the Rapid Support Forces.
- The detention of healthcare workers impacts thousands of citizens deprived of medical services.
