Access has been a big issue for years for humanitarian actors in Sudan’s conflict zones. But in September, when authorities continued to deny access to the country’s Blue Nile state, the Brussels arm of international medical group Médecins Sans Frontières decided it was time to go.
It took a few more months for the medical group to settle its activities and wind down operations before finally announcing this week it is pulling out of the country, a decision that is sure to have an impact on the health situation in refugee camps in Blue Nile. It is also likely to affect the El Sereif camp in South Darfur, where the group said a reinforcement team of emergency specialists was denied access in April 2014 — just when outbreaks of waterborne diseases like hepatitis E required immediate attention.
The group hasn’t been able to resume its hospital and mobile clinic project in Shaeria town in East Darfur since authorities arrested and remove its staff from the area in December 2012.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
