Sudan Urgently Needs $120 Mln to Counter Coronavirus

Minister of Health in Sudan, Akram Ali Al-Tom, said that his country urgently needs $ 120 million to combat the novel coronavirus, in light of the shortage of supplies necessary to combat the epidemic.

Although the reported cases of infection in Sudan remains relatively small, the epidemic that has spread around the world reached the country at a time when it is facing an economic crisis.

"We are preparing a strategy to confront the pandemic, which extends throughout June, but to implement it, we urgently need $120 million to provide prevention tools to protect workers in medical facilities and to rehabilitate those facilities and equipment developed for laboratory tests," the Sudanese health minister told Reuters.

Sudan has so far reported 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including two deaths, but the Minister of Health said that Sudan, in its current state, would not be able to deal with any major outbreaks.

The minister added that his country suffers from a shortage of ventilators and protective clothing for medical teams and examination devices. He indicated that Sudan had received a number of medical equipment from external parties.

He said: "We have promises to receive $13 million, including donations for Sudanese abroad, but putting Sudan on the American terrorist list is hindering the delivery of these donations to the Ministry of Health to help fight corona."

In February, Sudan began conducting checks for arrivals to its international airport. In March, the Sudanese authorities closed all airports and border crossings to non-commercial traffic.

The government also imposed a 12-hour curfew, closed schools and universities, and banned events and gatherings.

The minister said that his ministry recommended imposing a "complete closure" of the capital, Khartoum, for at least three weeks, establishing more quarantine centers and increasing the capacity to examine people in their areas in Khartoum and the rest of Sudan.

The minister added that he expects to issue a new health emergency law today, and noted that the government "doubled the health budget for the current year by more than 200 percent, but we still need help."