Sudan: "A testament to human resilience", Medical Activity Manager Dr Seedat

Mariam’s* determination will always stay with me. Her baby was frail, barely clinging to life when she arrived at our hospital in Nyala, in Sudan's South Darfur state. Against every obstacle – her husband absent, her family sceptical, and miles of treacherous roads – she brought her child to us. Her mother had said: ‘You already have five children; why risk everything for one who might not survive?’ But Mariam refused to give up.

When she finally reached us, the baby was on the brink of death. My colleagues worked for two gruelling hours to resuscitate the infant. It was one of those times where hope felt like an act of defiance. Miraculously, the baby survived. For us, it wasn’t just a medical victory; it was a testament to human resilience – hers and that of the team.

Treating patients with limited supplies and environmental challenges

I was working as MSF’s medical activity manager in Nyala, the second-largest city in Sudan. Nyala teaching hospital, once a pillar of healthcare, had been devastated by the recent conflict. Our team was tasked with reviving three departments: paediatrics, maternity and emergency care.

The work wasn’t easy. We treated hundreds of patients daily in a hospital with unreliable electricity, no functioning radiology service and limited laboratory services. Essential supplies were scarce, and the rainy season turned every road into an obstacle course. Two critical bridges washed away while I was there, stranding trucks carrying medical supplies. In one surreal moment, we resorted to flying in boats to ferry equipment across swollen rivers. The local community amazed me with their ingenuity – creating zip lines to transport goods and even babies across those same waterways.

The conditions faced by people in South Darfur are almost unimaginable. Violence is ever-present, whether from armed conflict or the lawlessness that leaves people vulnerable to robbery and assault. The seasonal rains bring surges in malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and malnutrition, especially among children. One child after another came to us with advanced illnesses, their tiny bodies worn down by preventable conditions made deadly by delayed access to medical care.

Delivering urgent medical care to give patients a fighting chance

Pregnant women face unique challenges in this region. Emergency maternal care is free at our hospital, but the lack of antenatal care in South Darfur means that complications are often caught too late. Our team saw countless cases of maternal and neonatal sepsis, a grim reality in a bombed-out hospital where sterile conditions were difficult to maintain. Yet we pressed on, performing surgeries in less-than-ideal conditions and training local staff to ensure that every woman and child had a fighting chance.

For every patient like Mariam’s baby, there were many we couldn’t save. Those are the stories that haunt you. Families unable to afford transportation to better-equipped health facilities. A man with a gunshot wound stabilised in our emergency room, only to face catastrophic expenses at the next hospital. Children whose lives we couldn’t save because we lacked the resources to treat chronic conditions. These moments were tough, but they underscore why MSF’s presence is vital. Without our team, many wouldn’t even have that first chance at survival.

HOPE IN A ’HUMANITARIAN DESERT’

Our colleagues are extraordinary. Many are local doctors and nurses who could have left for safer opportunities but have stayed out of a sense of duty. They’ve been through personal tragedies, but they show up every day to serve their community.

South Darfur in Sudan is what some have called a ‘humanitarian desert’, a region largely abandoned by international aid organisations due to its volatility. MSF is one of the few still operating there, and its logistical capabilities allow us to reach places others can’t. While other agencies struggle to get trucks across borders, we have found ways – sometimes unconventional – to deliver what is needed.

The people of Sudan deserve more than what little the world is offering. They deserve consistent, quality healthcare, free from the shadow of violence and neglect. Every life we save, every mother we comfort, and every child we treat is a step toward showing them that the world hasn’t completely forgotten them.

Mariam’s story is a reminder of why we are there. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis, but in moments like those, when a mother’s hope and the team’s dedication align to defy the odds, you realise the importance of what we do. MSF goes where others won’t, not because it’s easy, but because people like Mariam and her baby deserve a chance.