'Peace talks are the only way to bring the conflict in Sudan to an end'

Sudanese women cook meals at a community kitchen inside the El-Afadh camp in Al Dabbah, in Sudan's Northern State. Picture: Marwan Ali/AP

Peace talks are the only way to bring the conflict in Sudan to an end with civilians now exhausted, Sudanese doctors living in Ireland have told an Oireachtas committee.

The Sudanese Doctors Union of Ireland described how the health system has “collapsed”, with doctors and nurses often directly targeted for attack during the conflict which broke out in April 2023. 

Dr Wail Mohammed, a consultant in neurosurgery at Cork University Hospital, said doctors have a moral obligation to support a peaceful resolution.

I think history has told us there hasn’t been in the history of Sudan over the last 75 years any military or armed conflict that has settled with arms. They were all through mediation or peace talks.

He added: “That’s the only hope and probably the shorter road to ending this.” 

Dr Rania Atta Ahmed, president of the doctor’s union spoke of “a lot of attacks” on healthcare systems including hospitals and individual staff.

They believe, she said, “it’s targeted attacks, especially when the RSF [one party to the conflict] think that doctors are treating the other party’s armies".

Asked by Fine Gael TD Noel McCarthy if the attacks are isolated incidents, she said: “We don’t believe they are isolated incidents, because there are too many.” 

Dr Sarah Azhari Mohamed, interventional radiology fellow at Beaumont Hospital, explained at times doctors are targeted individually.

“What we have seen is there is a deliberate intent to destroy evidence and we think the attacks on healthcare workers are related to this,” she said.

“The reason why they target doctors and nurses is doctors and nurses can report fatalities and injuries. And they don’t want these reports to come out.” 

The committee also heard from development NGO Goal on its work in the region and its concerns. 

Last month, famine was confirmed in two areas of the Darfur region in Sudan by Unicef and other bodies.