Sudan Doctors call on military parties not to involve medical staff in the conflict

The Sudan Doctors Network expressed deep concern on Monday over statements made by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in which he suggested that doctors had been involved in the war and had acted as intelligence sources for the armed forces.

Al-Burhan had stated, in remarks reported by the Sovereignty Council last Saturday, that medical personnel had endured the hardships of war alongside others and had played a significant role in the liberation of areas in southern Khartoum by providing relevant authorities with information on enemy movements, referring to the Rapid Support Forces.

In a statement, the network stressed that such remarks contradict the humanitarian mission of doctors and place the lives of hundreds of healthcare workers at serious risk, particularly amid an ongoing war.

The network called on all military parties not to involve doctors in the conflict, emphasizing that medical personnel, like the rest of the Sudanese population, have paid a heavy price as a result of the war.

It further explained that Sudanese doctors continue to carry out their humanitarian duties under extremely complex and difficult conditions, facing severe shortages of resources and deteriorating security conditions. This, it said, requires all parties to ensure their protection and provide a safe environment that enables them to continue delivering life-saving healthcare services.