There has been a profound failure to protect the war-stricken people of Sudan, the general director of international charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has told The National, following a visit during which he heard constant pleas for “food, safety and medical care”.
In an exclusive interview, Stephen Cornish, who recently toured MSF centres in Sudan, shed light on the harrowing reality for ordinary Sudanese in a nation enduring a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions.
Since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a relentless cycle of violence and suffering. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left tens of thousands dead, 11 million displaced and 26 million facing acute hunger.
“This is not just a humanitarian crisis; it is a profound failure to protect the most vulnerable,” Mr Cornish said.
MSF, one of the few international organisations operating in both SAF and RSF-controlled areas, has been at the forefront of providing medical humanitarian aid to the most affected populations.
With a team of more than 1,500 staff, including 130 from abroad, MSF has been grappling with myriad challenges posed by the conflict, including violence, displacement, malnutrition, and infectious disease outbreaks.
The scale of the health crisis is staggering with frequent outbreaks of disease, particularly cholera and malaria. Frequent air strikes have ravaged the country's healthcare infrastructure.
“In 2024, in El Fasher, repeated attacks since May have left only one hospital partially operational for surgeries,” Mr Cornish said. “In South Khartoum, MSF teams at Al Bashair Hospital have treated over 4,200 trauma cases, including gunshot and bomb-blast injuries. One in six patients was a child under 15.”
Malnutrition has reached catastrophic levels, with famine declared in the Zamzam displacement camp in August and the UN warning in December that famine was expected to spread to five more regions in Sudan in 2025.
Acute malnutrition rates among children in the Zamzam camp, which has been shelled numerous times over the past few weeks, are more than double the emergency thresholds set by the WHO, said Mr Cornish, adding that similar rates were recorded in the cities of Nyala and El Gedaref.
“In almost all the camps MSF works in Darfur, one third of children are malnourished,” Mr Cornish said. “MSF teams on the ground are witnessing this unfolding disaster first hand across both SAF and RSF-controlled territories.”
The psychological toll of the conflict on the Sudanese people is immeasurable, with the trauma of ethnically motivated sexual assaults and gender-based violence leaving deep scars.
Mr Cornish said “the mental health needs of the population will be immense and will require a sustained and comprehensive response long after the conflict ends”.
The challenges faced by humanitarian workers are also huge. Attacks on healthcare centres and staff by militiamen have become alarmingly frequent, with MSF documenting more than 80 violent incidents against its staff and centres in 2024 alone.
“If we can't ensure the safety of our staff, we are forced to suspend or, in the worst case, halt our activities,” Mr Cornish said. “The normalisation of attacks on healthcare and humanitarian workers is a dire trend that calls for urgent action.”
He pointed to a December report released by the World Health Organisation which decried a marked increase in attacks on healthcare workers in several war zones worldwide in 2024.
“The WHO verified over 1,200 attacks on healthcare across multiple countries, including Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine. These attacks have caused significant casualties and disrupted essential services, representing clear violations of international humanitarian law,” he added.
Furthermore, logistical obstacles, such as bureaucratic barriers, insecurity, road closures, and limited transportation options, have severely hindered relief efforts and aid deliveries. Such barriers are often put in place by both sides in the war to ensure the other does not have a political advantage through aid deliveries.
“Access to humanitarian aid in Sudan remains critically restricted,” Mr Cornish said. “Basic needs such as food, clean water, shelter, and sanitation remain largely unmet, compounding the health crisis.”
He added that looting of essential supplies and frequent blockades, which prevent humanitarian workers from crossing borders into neighbouring countries that house large numbers of displaced Sudanese, have also been a massive hindrance to MSF’s operations.
But amid the chaos and despair, glimmers of hope still emerge in stories of resilience and determination among ordinary people. Mr Cornish recounted a tale of three young brothers at Adre camp for Sudanese refugees, in the east of neighbouring Chad, who despite hardships still dream of becoming footballers. “They created their own makeshift tournament in Adre camp, a small way to hold on to a piece of their childhood,” he said.
Mr Cornish also highlighted the crucial role played by local communities and volunteers in Sudan, who have taken on a significant portion of the relief efforts, often at great personal risk. At the same time, the international community's response to the crisis has been woefully inadequate, he said.
“The response from the international community is in no way commensurate with the enormous needs we see in Sudan,” Mr Cornish said. “The people in Sudan have suffered in silence for far too long. We still see the gaps in response from other humanitarian organisations, including the UN, even in areas where access and security are not challenges, such as the refugee camps in eastern Chad.”
MSF has been at the forefront of advocating for increased support. The organisation recently allocated an additional 50 million euros of funding for Sudan during the final months of 2024 and into 2025. It also received a €35 million donation from the IKEA Foundation.
However, Mr Cornish stressed that more needs to be done. “MSF alone cannot meet the vast challenges, and we call on other humanitarian organisations and stakeholders to scale up their efforts,” he said.
“We urge audiences like yours to act: mobilise, raise awareness within their communities, and advocate for Sudan's people, who cannot afford further delay.”
The UN Security Council has been deadlocked on Sudan, and to date, “key states with influence on the parties to the conflict have been unwilling to use the leverage they have or to truly encourage the warring parties to respect their obligations towards civilians”, Mr Cornish added.
“The warring parties ultimately are responsible for their actions and must ensure the protection of civilians and enable access to aid.”
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
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Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
THE%20SPECS
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
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Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
