Heedless Violence, Priceless Loss

On April 15, 2023, a deadly civil war broke out in Sudan. While the news continues to roll forward, the impact of the war hasn’t yet faded. The war has taken a terrible toll on Sudan and its people. It is a reminder of the blessings of home and security which are far from guaranteed for many. But there are some whom we consider heroes – who didn’t consider the dangers to themselves should they travel to help in Sudan but rather the dangers to their people should they not.

The Sudanese American Medical Association (SAMA) and the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) are two groups of medical providers based in the United States focusing on service in the nation of Sudan from which they hail.

From firsthand experience, I can say that the efforts SAMA takes are truly astonishing. SAMA has donated millions of dollars worth of medical equipment and essential supplies to the most desperate hospitals in states across Sudan. Trainings are led to equip Sudanese doctors for as many difficulties as possible, from trauma cases to situations in oral and maxillofacial surgery. From literally feeding the hungry and healing the sick to finding a way to teach those on the front lines, SAMA has done it all.

Now, they must bear a heavy loss – that of a SAMA director, Dr. Bushra Sulieman. Dr. Sulieman (pictured above, wearing blue scrubs) was determined to serve, even returning to Sudan from the U.S. despite the dangers of doing so. Though Dr. Sulieman’s friends insisted to him that it would be safer in Port Sudan, anywhere besides the capital city of Khartoum, Dr. Sulieman insisted that service came first. He didn’t want to leave – and that was the very reason he’d come back to Khartoum at all. Dr. Sulieman was a surgeon, traveling and working in the United States, but chose instead to return to Sudan to train other doctors.

When his dear friend and SAPA secretary general Dr. Mohamed Eisa finally convinced him to leave Khartoum for Port Sudan, for urgent reasons of safety, Dr. Sulieman reluctantly agreed.

It was then that he was stabbed to death in an attempted robbery, likely as a direct result of the turmoil in Sudan. It is an immense loss not only for SAMA and for the friends and family of Dr. Sulieman, but for the people of Sudan themselves, for whom the war is being fought for after all. Dr. Sulieman was trying to bring his father to dialysis. Such heartrending personal stories of loss bring another dimension to the suffering borne by Sudan. Life is incalculably precious, and in cutting it short war is truly despicable.

Dr. Eisa, pictured above with Dr. Sulieman, is continuing his work, as are the many brave physicians fighting to bring aid and relief to Sudan. Millions of people depended on humanitarian aid in Sudan before the war even began. Now what will they do? Humanitarian work truly, truly means a great deal. To bring people access to those things that they have a basic right to – inspired by the story of Dr. Sulieman, we hope the efforts will never cease.

Want to help? https://sama-sd.org/get-involved/