Volker Türk: Sudan's Health System Has Been Severely Damaged

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Thursday that Sudan's health system has been severely damaged, with at least 17 attacks against health facilities, and several others occupied by military forces.

In his remarks at the 36th Special Session of the Human Rights Council, Türk said: "People who have been wounded; women in childbirth; or simply the severely ill have nowhere to go."

He also expressed his sadness over years of development efforts being obliterated by damage to water, electricity, and communications infrastructure.

"Extensive and increasing looting of UN and international NGO offices, businesses, and private property have also obstructed the humanitarian operations that kept millions of people alive and in health."

WFP expected that if the conflict continues, 2.5 million more people could become acutely food insecure within 3 to 6 months, bringing the total to 19 million people – more than half the population, he reported.

"Already, some 50,000 acutely malnourished children have been cut off from receiving live-saving treatment, according to OCHA," Türk added.

In the same connection, he strongly condemned this wanton violence, in which both sides have trampled international humanitarian law, notably the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.