Sudan Health Ministry Warns of ‘Tough’ Months ahead Due to Pandemic

Sudan Health Ministry Warns of ‘Tough’ Months ahead Due to Pandemic
TT
20

Sudan Health Ministry Warns of ‘Tough’ Months ahead Due to Pandemic

Sudan Health Ministry Warns of ‘Tough’ Months ahead Due to Pandemic

Sudan has predicted that it was in for a tough three months ahead with the continuous rise in coronavirus infections and death.

Health authorities urged the ratification of a law that makes mask wearing and social distancing mandatory to stem the spread of the virus.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, Sudan has recorded 30,000 cases including 2,000 deaths.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Health Minister Omar Ahmed Al-Najeeb acknowledged that isolation centers have limited capacity to receive people.

He revealed that the Health Ministry was working on increasing capacity at several hospitals so that they can receive more patients.

He called on the Supreme Committee for Health Emergencies to reduce the number of employees in public institutions, especially the elderly who are at greater risk due to the virus.

Around 5,000 people have received the AstraZeneca vaccine since the inoculation campaign began two weeks ago, he added.

Forty-seven vaccination centers have been set up in Khartoum, he stated.

Najeeb warned that the coronavirus will persist for a long time, urging the need to raise awareness among the people on the need to comply with precautionary measures.



Israel Vows to Prevent an Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg, Activists from Reaching Gaza

Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
TT
20

Israel Vows to Prevent an Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg, Activists from Reaching Gaza

Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

Israel’s defense minister has vowed to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching the Gaza Strip.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that Israel wouldn't allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms.

Thunberg, a climate campaigner is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, The AP news reported.

The activists had said they planned to reach Gaza’s territorial waters as early as Sunday.

Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.

After a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade and the war end.

An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group’s vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.