President of the Sovereignty Council Meets with Director-General of WHO
Port Sudan, September 8, 2024
The president of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, met today with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom, accompanied by Dr. Hanan Hassan Balkhi, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. The meeting was attended by Sudan’s Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hussein Al-Amin.
In a press statement, the Minister of Health highlighted that Dr. Adhanom’s visit to Sudan included various activities, such as visiting several health institutions, refugee shelters, and the Humanitarian Aid Commission. He also held discussions with various state officials, which mainly revolved around the WHO’s commitment to continuing its support for Sudan and the need to open border crossings with neighboring countries to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected by the ongoing conflict. The Minister noted that the WHO Director-General pledged to increase the organization’s assistance to Sudan.
Dr. Tedros described his meeting with the Chairman of the Sovereign Council as productive and constructive. He briefed General al-Burhan on the outcomes of his two-day visit, during which he assessed the needs of Sudan’s health sector. He also expressed his gratitude to the Sudanese government for its cooperation with international organizations, particularly for agreeing to open humanitarian corridors to ensure aid reaches those in need. Dr. Tedros stated that General al-Burhan reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment to facilitating the work of the WHO to support the country’s healthcare sector.
Furthermore, the Chairman expressed the government’s willingness to use Merowe Airport and other airports to help international organizations deliver aid, as Merowe is the closest route for assistance to reach Darfur.
Dr. Hanan Hassan Balkhi, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, added that the organization, in coordination with the regional office, is working on rehabilitating several hospitals in Sudan and securing financial and technical support for health institutions damaged by the war.
She emphasized the urgent need for a swift response to the humanitarian needs of those affected by the conflict in Sudan.
Transitional Sovereign Council Media Office
