Darfur: MSF calls for the protection of health facilities and staff following the fatal shooting of a health worker

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is mourning the death of a Ministry of Health colleague at Zalingei Hospital (Central Darfur) on 18 November and calling once again for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to guarantee the protection of health facilities and staff. 

MSF extends its deepest condolences to the family of the Ministry of Health stretcher-bearer who was killed in the shooting outside Zalingei Hospital on 18 November, which also left four individuals wounded. Following this incident, and for the second time this year, MSF has been forced to reduce support at Zalingei Hospital to ensure the safety of our teams.  

“Our teams cannot resume humanitarian activities until the Rapid Support Forces guarantee safe conditions to protect staff and patients”, says Myriam Laaroussi, MSF emergency coordinator in Darfur. 

“It is unacceptable for armed confrontations to affect medical facilities and humanitarian aid.” 

At Zalingei Hospital, MSF provides critical services and support, including an emergency room, surgery, paediatrics, emergency obstetrics and newborn care, as well as an inpatient department and isolation tents for treating measles and cholera during outbreaks.

Since 18 November MSF has maintained continuous active engagement with the Ministry of Health, community members, security agencies and different authorities to work on the protection status of the health facility. During the withdrawal, we will continue to provide support for human resources and the supply of medicines.

This incident follows an earlier suspension in August, when MSF halted all operations at the hospital following a grenade explosion inside the facility on the night of August 16. That attack resulted in one fatality and left five others injured, including a Ministry of Health staff member. A reduced team continued to provide essential care until, following discussions with key stakeholders, MSF resumed its activities on August 31.

Measles outbreak

The ongoing violence disrupts access to healthcare for hundreds of people in need at a time when MSF has been responding actively to a measles outbreak in the area.

From April 1 to November 20, 2025, we received a total of 850 measles patients, 36% (310) of whom were acutely malnourished, which increases the severity of the disease. 

Many of the patients we treat also suffer from acute malnutrition, which increases the risk of developing sever medical complications. Malnutrition combined with measles can be fatal,” says José Sánchez, MSF medical coordinator in Darfur. 

Over the past months, our teams have recorded worrying surge in measles cases. Weekly averages have escalated rapidly, from three cases in July to 22 in August, 43 in September, 57 in October and 62 in November. 

It is essential that our teams continue to provide urgent medical care at the facility,” says Sánchez. 

For over 40 years, MSF has been at the forefront of major crises in Sudan, including disease outbreaks and periods of severe malnutrition. We continue to support communities affected by ongoing conflict through humanitarian and healthcare activities in eight states.