Rising shipping costs exacerbate the crisis of medical equipment imports in Sudan

Khartoum - October 8, 2026 - Dabanga Radio: Medical equipment in Sudan has faced a catastrophic crisis since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, as infrastructure, hospitals, and medical devices have been subjected to widespread destruction and looting. The Sudanese Ministry of Health estimates the losses from the destruction and looting of health institutions, medical equipment, ambulances, and medicine warehouses at approximately $11 billion. Dr. Ammar Malik, Director of Samat Medical Company, says that the war has imposed significant challenges on the medical equipment and devices sector in Sudan, directly impacting import operations and supply chains. He confirmed to "Dabanga Radio" that the shrinking of shipping options has led to increased costs and difficulties in importing medical equipment and devices, forcing companies to use limited routes and options compared to what was available before the war. Malik explained that the closure of ports during the initial period of the war was one of the most prominent challenges facing companies, making it difficult to bring medical equipment and devices into the country, in addition to the security and logistical difficulties that affected import movement. He noted that companies continued their activities in states and safe areas during the war, focusing on providing medical needs in those regions despite the difficulties the sector has faced since the beginning of the war. Air freight challenges: Malik believes that "the limited movement of civil aviation has increased the difficulty of importing medical equipment via air freight; before the war, companies relied on international airlines and specialized air cargo lines at lower costs, whereas they now rely more heavily on airlines connected to Sudan, including Tarco, Badr, and Sudanair (Tarco, Badr, and Sudan Airways)." Malik said that crises and wars in the region and the world have also affected shipping movement and costs, but the war in Sudan has had a greater impact on air freight, while regional and global events, according to him, have affected the level and costs of maritime shipping. He explained that significant challenges faced the return of activity to Khartoum after regaining control over large parts of it, including the reopening of headquarters and warehouses and the restoration of commercial activity, in addition to other challenges that accompanied the return of companies to the capital.