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| Sudan crisis: WHO warns of biological hazard at seized lab | Sudan crisis: WHO warns of biological hazard at seized lab |
| (1 day later) | |
| Fighting in Sudan's capital Khartoum has cotinued into a second week | Fighting in Sudan's capital Khartoum has cotinued into a second week |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) says there's a "high risk of biological hazard" at a laboratory caught up in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. | The World Health Organization (WHO) says there's a "high risk of biological hazard" at a laboratory caught up in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. |
| Officials said it was unclear who was behind the occupation of the National Public Health Laboratory in the capital Khartoum. | Officials said it was unclear who was behind the occupation of the National Public Health Laboratory in the capital Khartoum. |
| The city has been ravaged by fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). | The city has been ravaged by fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). |
| The WHO told the BBC on Tuesday that workers can no longer access the lab. | The WHO told the BBC on Tuesday that workers can no longer access the lab. |
| And it warned that power cuts were making it impossible to properly manage material at the lab. | And it warned that power cuts were making it impossible to properly manage material at the lab. |
| Officials said that a broad range of biological and chemical materials are stored in the lab. The facility holds measles and cholera pathogens, as well as other hazardous materials. | Officials said that a broad range of biological and chemical materials are stored in the lab. The facility holds measles and cholera pathogens, as well as other hazardous materials. |
| A lack of power is also putting depleting stocks of blood bags stored at the lab at risk of spoiling. | A lack of power is also putting depleting stocks of blood bags stored at the lab at risk of spoiling. |
| In a press conference on Wednesday, WHO officials said it is conducting an "extensive" risk assessment of the potential public health threat following the seizure of the lab. | |
| Fillipa Lentzos, Associate Professor in Science and International Security at King's College London, said: "It could create a risky situation, but it's a regular health lab, not a high containment facility. | |
| "The agents which are in the lab are all diseases which are endemic in the region anyway, so they wouldn't really be classified as high risk," she told us. | |
| Where is the lab? | Where is the lab? |
| The lab is near the centre of Khartoum and not far from city's main airport. | The lab is near the centre of Khartoum and not far from city's main airport. |
| It lies just outside the area where Sudan's military headquarters are located, and where a lot of the fighting has been taking place. | It lies just outside the area where Sudan's military headquarters are located, and where a lot of the fighting has been taking place. |
| The particular geography of Khartoum means key strategic sites which are being targeted, such as military buildings, are close to critical infrastructure. | The particular geography of Khartoum means key strategic sites which are being targeted, such as military buildings, are close to critical infrastructure. |
| Both the military headquarters and the airport are right next to a residential area, with several schools and hospitals nearby. | Both the military headquarters and the airport are right next to a residential area, with several schools and hospitals nearby. |
| Only a fraction of health facilities in Khartoum are providing services due to a lack of staff, medicine and other supply shortages, power outages, or attacks. | Only a fraction of health facilities in Khartoum are providing services due to a lack of staff, medicine and other supply shortages, power outages, or attacks. |
| The Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan has reported that 36% of health facilities in Khartoum city are non-functional and another 25% are unresponsive. | The Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan has reported that 36% of health facilities in Khartoum city are non-functional and another 25% are unresponsive. |
| Sudan: The basics | Sudan: The basics |
| Sudan is in north-east Africa and has a history of instability: The military toppled long-time leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019 after mass protests | Sudan is in north-east Africa and has a history of instability: The military toppled long-time leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019 after mass protests |
| It then overthrew a power-sharing government in 2021, putting two men at the helm: The head of the army and his deputy, who is also the head of a paramilitary group called the RSF | It then overthrew a power-sharing government in 2021, putting two men at the helm: The head of the army and his deputy, who is also the head of a paramilitary group called the RSF |
| They disagree on how to restore civilian rule to Sudan: The RSF leader claims to represent marginalised groups against the country's elites but his forces were accused of ethnic cleansing | They disagree on how to restore civilian rule to Sudan: The RSF leader claims to represent marginalised groups against the country's elites but his forces were accused of ethnic cleansing |
| What is going on in Sudan? A simple guide | What is going on in Sudan? A simple guide |
| Graphics by Kate Gaynor. | Graphics by Kate Gaynor. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sudan | Sudan |
| Khartoum | Khartoum |