In 2019, a popular uprising in Khartoum unseated Sudan’s dictatorial President Omar al-Bashir. Sudan’s bright hope for civilian rule dwindled in recent years. Then, on April 15, without warning, Khartoum awoke to massive military chaos. A general who had been Bashir’s right-hand man was fighting with a general known for his role in the Darfur genocide, almost 20 years ago. This power struggle is now in its fourth month. Darfur faces unimaginable problems. The rest of Sudan previously enjoyed good infrastructure and civil society, in spite of its bad politics. Now 80% of hospitals have been destroyed. Khartoum, which was among the safest cities in the world, is a war zone. Civilians demonstrate their characteristic kindness and generosity towards those who suffer, but that has not brought peace. More than 800,000 refugees have fled to neighboring countries, including South Sudan. South Sudanese who moved north when their farms were buried by floodwaters now flee another dilemma. They pack into boats, headed back to South Sudan.

For years, we have sent patients with complicated problems to Khartoum for treatment. Khartoum offered well-trained staff and good hospitals. Suddenly, that option is gone. The loss of 80% of the hospitals in Sudan is a disaster for Sudan and South Sudan.

Ever since the World Food Program cut rations for our patents by one third a few years ago, we purchased supplemental grain from Sudan. Now Sudan has no surplus grain to for us to buy.

War is such a bummer!