MSF started working in Sudan’s White Nile state in 2014, following a massive influx of refugees fleeing the civil war that began in neighbouring South Sudan in late 2013. Since then MSF has carried out activities including launching emergency responses, managing health facilities and carrying out vaccination campaigns. According to UNHCR, White Nile state still hosts 248,000 South Sudanese refugees, with 162,000 living in camps like Al Kashafa. Elsewhere in Sudan, only the capital Khartoum hosts more refugees.

In December 2019, MSF opened a new 85-bed hospital in Al Kashafa refugee camp, which provides primary and secondary healthcare for patients with complicated conditions, including severely malnourished children who require inpatient care and people with chronic infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB). Other services in Al Kashafa include blood transfusions, maternal and neonatal care, mental health support, and sexual and reproductive health programmes. Patients come from Al Kashafa camp as well as from surrounding villages and eight other camps nearby.

These pictures show both the former hospital in Al Kashafa and the new hospital, constructed by MSF and opened in December 2019.