South Kordofan is one of Sudan’s 18 provinces, located in the southernmost part of the country, with South Sudan as its neighbour. Shadowed by the long-running and devastating Darfur War, South Kordofan—a region only partly controlled by the Sudanese government and engaged in a complex conflict of its own—remains relatively unknown to many people around the world.
The conflict in South Kordofan, sometimes referred to as the Third Sudanese Civil War, is driven by a strong independence movement. Grievances with Khartoum and oil—the natural resource that is a source of cash as well as conflict—are the main drivers in the province’s struggle.
The fighting, which broke out anew in 2011, has driven thousands of people from their homes and created massive humanitarian needs. To help displaced communities in South Kordofan survive and rebuild, International Medical Corps runs several clinics there. In this post, we meet some of the health professionals working at the clinics, as well as the people they support.
Hajer, a Nutrition Assistant at Telo Clinic, examines a young patient. Thanks to funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), International Medical Corps runs seven clinics in the eastern part of Kadugli, South Kordofan’s regional capital.
International Medical Corps staff members register patients at Telo South Clinic. The clinics provide thousands of men, women and children with healthcare and nutrition assistance; they can also access clean water and sanitation facilities there.
Hamed, a Laboratory Technician, carries out an analysis. The clinics serve people who have been forced from their homes and are now living in a settlement made up of former school buildings.
Nutrition Assistant Hajer carries out a malnutrition screening at the Telo Clinic. According to the United Nations, 58% of households throughout Sudan cannot afford a basic daily food basket.
Staff members conduct a health education session at the Telo South Clinic. In rural areas of Sudan, people often have to travel vast distances to access healthcare, making the International Medical Corps clinics in South Kordofan, as well as awareness about them, crucial.
Hajer weighs a child at the Telo Clinic. More than 2.7 million children in Sudan suffer from acute malnutrition and many medical facilities across the country are not functional.
