Brief
Sudan’s diabetic patients forced to choose between insulin and food amid war
Escalating conflict has pushed insulin prices to unaffordable levels, forcing chronically ill Sudanese to prioritize medicine over basic nutrition.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Al Jazeera reported that Sudan’s ongoing civil war has forced chronically ill patients to make impossible choices between life‑saving medication and basic food, exemplified by 48‑year‑old diabetic Hasanat al‑Rashid.
What happened
Since the war erupted in April 2023, al‑Rashid has been displaced multiple times, first fleeing from Haj Yousif in Khartoum North to Umm Daw Ban, then moving south to Gezira State for treatment, and finally seeking refuge in Port Sudan after fighting spread in December 2023. Throughout her displacement she endured days without medication and was compelled to eat unsuitable foods such as sīda, a traditional porridge high in carbohydrates.
Her diabetes complications required two foot surgeries and daily insulin injections. The cost of an insulin pen—70,000 Sudanese pounds (about $8) per device—exceeds her means, so she purchases insulin in vials at 17,000 pounds ($1.80) each and spends an additional 180,000 pounds ($20) each month on ice to keep the insulin cool, as she lacks a refrigerator.
What the reports add
Al Jazeera noted that the United Nations Development Programme says the war has pushed Sudanese incomes back to 1990s levels, making the cost of insulin prohibitive for many. The outlet also highlighted that other patients, such as 75‑year‑old Fatima Adam in Port Sudan Hospital, face similar affordability challenges for hypertension and thyroid medicines.
What was said
Al Jazeera quoted al‑Rashid: “It may last a month or less, but the challenge is that I don’t have a refrigerator, so I struggle to store the insulin properly.” She added that the varying insulin dose depends on her blood‑sugar levels.
How it came about
The conflict that began in April 2023 between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces has disrupted health services, supply chains, and livelihoods across the country. Earlier Felo coverage on Sudan’s worsening food security (IPC warns El Niño drought and war raise famine risk in Sudan’s Darfur and Kordofan) documented how displacement and economic collapse have compounded health crises, setting the stage for the current medication‑versus‑food dilemma.
Key facts
- Hasanat al‑Rashid has lived with diabetes for 15 years and now spends about 180,000 Sudanese pounds ($20) a month on ice to keep insulin cool. (aljazeera.com)
- An insulin pen costs 70,000 Sudanese pounds ($8) per device, while a vial costs 17,000 pounds ($1.80). (aljazeera.com)
- The war has pushed Sudanese incomes back to levels last seen in the 1990s, according to the UN Development Programme. (aljazeera.com)
- Al‑Rashid has been displaced multiple times, moving from Khartoum North to Gezira State and finally to Port Sudan. (aljazeera.com)
- Other patients like 75‑year‑old Fatima Adam also struggle to afford medicines for hypertension and thyroid conditions. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Food or medicine? The impossible choices facing Sudan’s chronically ill”
