--- title: "Sudan's Ongoing Civil War Exacerbates Struggles of Chronically Ill Citizens" url: https://noti.group/sudan-s-ongoing-civil-war-exacerbates-struggles-of-chronically-ill/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "World News" published: 2026-10-18T09:22:44.000Z updated: 2026-10-18T11:21:22.244Z id: db1c64e5-81cb-4d50-824b-b9af5c685e17 source: "Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/10/18/food-or-medicine-the-impossible-choices-facing-sudans-chronically-ill?traffic_source=rss" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/sudan-s-ongoing-civil-war-exacerbates-struggles-of-chronically-ill/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Sudan's Ongoing Civil War Exacerbates Struggles of Chronically Ill Citizens The ongoing civil war in Sudan is making it difficult for chronically ill citizens to access essential medical treatment due to displacement and conflict-related disruptions in healthcare services. Sudan's ongoing civil war is exacerbating the lives of chronically ill citizens, who are struggling to access essential medical treatment due to displacement and conflict-related disruptions in healthcare services. For 48-year-old Hasanat al-Rashid, living with diabetes for 15 years has become increasingly difficult since the outbreak of the three-and-a-half-year civil war between Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. Al-Rashid was forced to flee her home in Haj Yousif in Khartoum North to Umm Daw Ban in Khartoum State when the conflict began in April 2023, disrupting her ability to access necessary medical care. During her displacement, she experienced prolonged periods without medication and had to rely on unsuitable foods for her condition, such as asida, a traditional Sudanese porridge. The prolonged conflict in Sudan has led to a significant decline in income levels, according to the United Nations Development Programme, which estimates that they have fallen back to those of the 1990s. This economic downturn makes it extremely difficult for people like Hasanat to afford essential medications for their conditions. Her doctor's advice is to use an insulin pen, but even though it would last her a month or less, she cannot justify the upfront cost of $8 per device. Hasanat has opted for vials of insulin instead, which are cheaper at $1.80 each, although this comes with its own set of challenges. She needs to buy ice every day to keep the medication cool, incurring additional costs that add up to $20 a month. The constant struggle to balance her expenses is taking a toll on Hasanat's health, and she faces difficulties in managing her condition due to inadequate storage facilities for her insulin. Port Sudan Hospital is struggling to provide adequate care for patients like Fatima Adam, 75, who suffers from hypertension and a thyroid condition. Her daughter, Aisha, described how the rising cost of treatment has affected her family, making it difficult for them to afford the medicines her mother needs to manage her conditions. Fatima's treatment was previously covered by the National Health Insurance Fund, where she paid a quarter of the cost and the fund covered the rest. However, when the war began and the economy collapsed, this coverage was no longer available for the medicines she required. Aisha explained that her mother takes six different medications due to complications from hypertension affecting her heart in addition to her thyroid medication. The prices of these medicines have increased significantly since the start of the war, making it even harder for Fatima's family to afford them. Her son, a casual worker with no fixed income, bears the responsibility of paying for his mother's treatment and supporting his sister. He searches for work every day in the market, but sometimes returns home empty-handed without any luck. The cost of medication has become a significant burden for families in Sudan, particularly those struggling to make ends meet through day labor. A month's supply of essential medication can now cost up to 160,000 Sudanese pounds, a substantial expense that many families cannot afford. The war has had a devastating impact on Sudan's pharmaceutical supply system, with estimated losses totaling $500m in medicine stocks, infrastructure, and transport fleets. This has severely disrupted the country's ability to produce and distribute medicines, leading to widespread shortages. Only eight of the 30 pharmaceutical factories in Khartoum that shut down during the conflict have resumed operations, despite recent improvements in security in the capital. As a result, Sudan is increasingly reliant on imported medicines, but the subsequent depreciation of the Sudanese pound has driven up costs for procurement and production. The collapse of the currency has created significant challenges for pharmacists, who must now navigate black-market exchange rates to obtain the necessary medicines. Before the war, a dollar traded for roughly 600 pounds; today, it can cost as much as 9,300 pounds, making many goods unaffordable for most Sudanese. Pharmacists like Hossam al-Naeem in Port Sudan are bearing witness to the human toll of these economic challenges. As he works with customers who require regular painkillers and vitamins for conditions like diabetes and hypertension, he is deeply saddened by their reactions to the rising costs of medicine. The rising costs of medicine in Sudan have left many pharmacies struggling to stay afloat. For some owners, this means absorbing losses just to keep essential drugs stocked, as prices continue to soar. As Hossam's experience shows, the situation is becoming increasingly unsustainable. He has seen the price of cold and flu tablets rise to match the cost he would sell them for, leaving him with minimal profit margin or even operating costs. In rural areas like el-Obeid in North Kordofan state, residents are particularly vulnerable to shortages and high prices. For Huda Mahmoud, who suffers from heart problems, accessing medication has become a complex and expensive process. She takes five different medications, which can cost her up to 300,000 Sudanese pounds per month, a significant burden for someone living in an area already affected by conflict and violence. Huda's situation has become increasingly precarious due to repeated periods of upheaval in her area, making it difficult for her to follow her strict treatment regimen. Her regular medicine is now priced at 151,000 Sudanese pounds per month in el-Obeid, a cost she struggles to afford, and the thought of running out of medication or being unable to afford her next supply puts her at risk of developing a potentially life-threatening blood clot. --- Source: [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/10/18/food-or-medicine-the-impossible-choices-facing-sudans-chronically-ill?traffic_source=rss) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/sudan-s-ongoing-civil-war-exacerbates-struggles-of-chronically-ill/