War in Sudan – A surgeon and his team working to save lives in the Nuba Mountains | DW Documentary
Sudan has been in the grip of a civil war since April 2023. The consequences for the civilian population have been devastating. Hundreds of thousands have sought refuge in the remote Nuba Mountains, where there has been less fighting.
For decades, those living in the Nuba Mountains in southern Sudan were oppressed by the authoritarian regime based in the capital, Khartoum. The remote region still lacks paved roads and mobile phone coverage. Most concerning is the severe shortage of medical facilities.
In one of the region’s few hospitals, a surgeon and his team are working tirelessly to maintain medical care. Since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023, conditions have deteriorated significantly. The frontlines are nearby, but so far the region has largely been spared from direct fighting. However, like half of Sudan’s population, the people here also face the threat of famine.
The civil war erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), both vying for control of Africa’s third-largest country. This power struggle has had devastating effects on the population. Approximately 50 million people live in the country. Around 25 million are currently acutely food insecure, and more than 12 million individuals have been displaced.
The documentary follows Joseph Yacoub, the director of a hospital, as he navigates his everyday life. He is the only surgeon in the area, and the hospital receives hundreds of patients a day – including women in the late stages of pregnancy, wounded fighters, and mothers with malnourished children. Not all of them can be helped.
Joseph had to learn his surgery skills on the job as there are no universities in the Nuba Mountains He is now passing on his knowledge to Nidal Difan, who aspires to become the first female surgeon in the Nuba Mountains, and Aziz Burma, who is a former soldier. Joseph hopes that one day, these two will carry on with his work. The film sheds light on a seemingly endless war that has left deep scars on the population. The people portrayed are all striving for a future where the war has become a distant memory.
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Video “War in Sudan – A surgeon and his team working to save lives in the Nuba Mountains | DW Documentary” was uploaded on 06/21/2025 by DW Documentary Youtube channel.