Sudan: MSF condemns attack on ambulance taking pregnant woman to hospital

Sudan: MSF condemns attack on ambulance taking pregnant woman to hospital

In the early hours of Saturday 3 April, a clearly marked MSF ambulance, travelling from Rokero to Al-Fasher Hospital in Sudan was carjacked. The passengers, which included a pregnant woman being referred to hospital for emergency treatment, had all their belongings stolen and were left by the roadside in a remote location

All four passengers - the patient, their caretaker, a midwife and driver - are now safe. The patient was able to receive the treatment she needed after the team were found and she was able to continue her journey to the hospital.

Monica Camacho, MSF Desk Manager for East Africa, said: 

"It is shocking that anyone would attack an ambulance which was carrying a pregnant woman to hospital for emergency treatment. Fortunately, the patient – an expectant mother and her unborn child - did not suffer medical consequences as a result of this attack. 

"MSF has now been forced to stop all referrals to Al-Fasher hospital until we can guarantee the safety of patients and of medical staff. We are calling on all parties in the area to respect the delivery of much-needed medical humanitarian aid."


In Rokero, a mountainous area of Darfur State called Jebel Marra, MSF provides medical care in a Ministry of Health run hospital. MSF manages the inpatient department, emergency, maternity and delivery rooms. MSF also runs an observation room where patients can be kept under the watch of medical staff and an inpatient therapeutic feeding centre for malnourished children. Referrals to Al-Fasher are done for those needed more advanced medical care than can be provided at the facility.

Contact us
Etienne Lhermitte Media Officer, Médecins Sans Frontières/Ärzte ohne Grenzen (MSF)
Etienne Lhermitte Media Officer, Médecins Sans Frontières/Ärzte ohne Grenzen (MSF)
About MSF Switzerland

MSF Switzerland
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a worldwide movement of current and former field staff, grouped into national and regional associations. Collectively, they make sure that MSF stays true to its mission and principles.

MSF associations

Currently, there are 24 associations. All are independent legal entities, and each elects its own board of directors and president. Most associations have an executive office that raises funds and recruits staff for MSF’s operations.