Veterinary services under siege: how the armed conflict in Sudan threatens animal and human health and how to respond

KEYWORDS:

• Veterinary services
• armed conflict
• Sudan
• zoonotic diseases
• food safety

Dear Editor’s

Sudan’s veterinary service has a long history that dates back to the late 19th century under Anglo-Egyptian rule, when it was established to safeguard the health of animals used for transport, trade, and agriculture. It was one of the first tropical and African countries to do so, following Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Kenya [1]. Since its inception, the veterinary service in Sudan has expanded its mandate to include disease control, research, training, education, and animal trade and movement regulation, in collaboration with international organizations such as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) [2]. The service has been instrumental in protecting livestock from deadly diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), which can cause widespread devastation to livestock herds, leading to economic hardship and food insecurity for farmers and herders [3–5]. Veterinary professionals play a vital role in delivering these services. However, the service has also faced multiple challenges due to political, economic, environmental, and social factors that compromised its resources, infrastructure, personnel, equipment, and drugs. Moreover, it has confronted emerging and re-emerging animal diseases that threaten human health [6–9]. Despite these difficulties, the service remains vital for animal and public health protection, food security and safety, and rural livelihood support in Sudan. It strives to improve its quality, efficiency, and effectiveness through reforms, capacity building, and partnerships [10]. It also adapts to the changing needs and demands of society, the environment, and the market [2].

Unfortunately, the service is currently under threat by the ongoing armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted on 15 April 2023, in Khartoum. The conflict stems from a power struggle between the leaders of the two rival factions of the military government. The fighting has extended to other regions of the country, particularly Darfur, where both forces operate [3]. This conflict poses serious risks to the veterinary service’s operations, personnel, facilities, and animals, as evidenced by previous studies from South Sudan and Syria [10–12].

The conflict has a negative impact on veterinary services in several ways. Firstly, it hampers the provision of animal health services in the affected areas, as the security situation prevents the access and movement of veterinary personnel, equipment, and drugs. This can lead to a decrease in the quality and availability of veterinary care, and make it more difficult to control the spread of animal diseases. Secondly, it increases the risk of animal diseases as the displacement of people and animals, the destruction of infrastructure, and the lack of sanitation enable the transmission of zoonotic diseases. Previous studies have shown that zoonotic diseases such as rabies, anthrax, brucellosis, tuberculosis, leptospirosis, Q fever, and COVID-19 can spread during conflicts [13]. These diseases are transmitted during conflict due to factors such as poor hygiene, insufficient veterinary care, increased contact with wildlife, and disrupted vaccination programs [14]. Thirdly, it reduces the availability and quality of animal products as the conflict damages or destroys animal resources, limits animal production and trade, and compromises food safety standards. This can lead to food shortages and malnutrition, both of which can have a negative impact on human health.

The conflict also affects the livelihoods, food security, and nutrition of the population, especially in rural areas where most people depend on livestock for their income and food [15]. The conflict worsens the existing humanitarian needs in Sudan, where millions of people are already suffering from poverty, hunger, displacement, and violence [16].

In conclusion, veterinary services in Sudan are vital for safeguarding animal and human health as well as promoting social and economic development in the country. However, they are exposed to the negative impacts of the persistent conflict, which impairs their resources, infrastructure, personnel, legislation, and coordination. Therefore, we propose the following recommendations to protect and support veterinary services in Sudan during and after the conflict:

• We urge the veterinary authorities to participate in the WOAH Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Pathway, which is a tool to assess and enhance the quality and effectiveness of veterinary services following the WOAH standards [2,17].

• We appeal to both parties of the conflict to cooperate with UN peacekeeping missions that offer veterinary services to local communities and animals, as well as training and capacity building for local veterinarians and students.

• We urge the international community to provide financial and technical support to the veterinary service in Sudan, helping it rebuild its capacity and infrastructure.

• We encourage the private sector to invest in veterinary services in Sudan.

• We call on the government to develop a long-term plan to strengthen the veterinary service and make it more resilient to future shocks.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that there exist no commercial or financial relationships that could, in any way, lead to a potential conflict of interest.

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Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.