The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has evacuated its personnel from the sole major hospital in Sudan's central Gezira state due to escalating insecurity.

Madani Teaching Hospital, situated in the city of Wad Madani, is the only functional hospital in Gezira state.

Wad Madani is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, which has been engaged in conflict with Sudan's army since April 2023.

“This extremely difficult decision comes after more than three months of relentless challenges trying to provide care at the hospital, including the growing insecurity; the inability to bring new staff and medical supplies into the area due to the denial of travel permits," MSF said in a statement.

It added that the hospital had been serving “hundreds of thousands of people in dire need of medical assistance”.

The charity urged the army and RSF to “stop violating health facilities and guarantee the safety of medical personnel and grant the necessary travel permits for our staff and supplies”.