fullscreen

eFinder

eFinder

Home › Healthcare system collapse › Article

‘Spoiled insulin’: Sudan war disrupts drug supplies, fuelling smuggling

Al Jazeera · 🇶🇦 public Qatar · · 1027 words · By Mohammad Mansour
Healthcare system collapse Humanitarian Crisis War Crimes/Infrastructure Destruction
headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing
Ready to play
Daily briefing

What to know about Healthcare system collapse

‘Spoiled insulin’: Sudan war disrupts drug supplies, fuelling smuggling As the conflict destroys local production, Sudanese patients are forced to rely on expensive, smuggled medicines.

Claims checked 14
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage
Left20%
Center80%
Right0%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

‘Spoiled insulin’: Sudan war disrupts drug supplies, fuelling smuggling As the conflict destroys local production, Sudanese patients are forced to rely on expensive, smuggled medicines.

Why it matters

On a modest bed inside his war-battered home in the Khartoum North neighbourhood of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, Murtada Mohieddin, a diabetic patient in his early 50s, carefully counts his remaining doses of insulin.

Common ground

His search for medicine has transformed into a harrowing battle – not just to find the treatment he needs to survive his diabetes, but to ensure the medicine is not expired or ruined.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/1/spoiled-insulin-sudan-war-disrupts-drug-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 4
verified Verified 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info Single Source 2
check_circle Corroborated 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
help
Claim 1: “The WHO’s January 6 situation analysis detailed that cross-border transit times for medical commodities can take up to 90 days to reach remote regions like Darfur from the Cameroonian city of Douala via Chad.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the search results to support the claim regarding transit times from Douala to Darfur.
info
Claim 2: “the National Medical Supplies Fund maintains that it is working to secure essential medicines despite the fighting, claiming to have achieved 75 percent availability for cancer medications and fully secured supplies for kidney patients.”
SINGLE SOURCE
A PMC search result mentions the National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF) procures drugs for cancer and kidney disease, but the specific percentage (75%) and 'fully secured' claim are not corroborated by a second independent source in the evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 9, 2025 ... In addition, the National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF) procures drugs ... cancer, and kidney disease [11]. Despite the significance of ...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12063387/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — patients' self-management of oral medications. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 2010; 56(3):. 547 ...
https://www.theisn.org/wp-content/uploads/media/ISN+Atlas_20…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — High creatinine levels can be a sign of acute kidney injury and/or chronic kidney disease. A “normal” creatinine level in the blood is hard to define because it ...
https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/understanding-your-lab-…
schedule
Claim 3: “a hospital in Kurmuk, Blue Nile state, was looted on March 25, its equipment destroyed, and patients forced out. The RSF was blamed for these attacks.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 4: “On March 20, 2026, a drone attack on Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur state killed at least 64 people, including medical personnel, and injured 89 others.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the search results regarding a drone attack on Al-Daein Teaching Hospital on March 20, 2026.
schedule
Claim 5: “That same day [April 2], the Family Hospital in el-Daein was looted, and patients and health workers were assaulted and expelled.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 6: “On April 2, another drone attack struck Al-Jabalain Hospital in White Nile state, killing 10 staff members, including the hospital’s director”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 7: “El-Fasher, the last SAF stronghold in the western region of Darfur, was taken over by the RSF in late October 2025, trapping approximately 700,000 civilians”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia pages about the RSF and their territory, but does not contain a specific report confirming the takeover of El-Fasher in late October 2025 or the trapping of 700,000 civilians.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Rapid Support Forces (RSF; Arabic: قُوَّاتْ الدّعْمْ السَّرِيعْ, romanized: Quwwāt ad-daʿm as-sarīʿ) are a Sudanese paramilitary force formerly operated by the Sudanese government. They originated…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Support_Forces
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Chief among the disputes was the integration of the RSF into the military: the RSF insisted on a 10-year timetable for its integration into the regular army, while the army demanded integration within…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territory_of_the_Rapid_Support…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Reporters Without Borders promotes and defends the freedom to be informed and to inform others throughout the world. Based in Paris, it has international offices (Berlin, Brussels, Geneva,…
https://rsf.org/en
verified
Claim 8: “87 percent of facilities shut down in Khartoum and 85 percent closed in North Kordofan”
VERIFIED
The PHSA report from January 6, 2026, provides the exact statistics: 87% (719 of 824) in Khartoum and 85% (411 of 485) in North Kordofan.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — North Kordofan (Arabic: شمال كردفان, romanized: Šamāl Kurdufān) is one of the 18 wilayat or states of Sudan. It has an area of 185,302 km2 and an estimated population of 3,174,029 people (2018 est). E…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Kordofan
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Sudanese cholera epidemic (2024–present) is an ongoing medical crisis in Sudan, Chad and South Sudan. It is reportedly the worst cholera outbreak in years. UNICEF has reported the epidemic is bein…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_cholera_epidemic_(202…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since April 2023, there has been a civil war in Sudan between the two main factions of the country's military government. The conflict involves the internationally recognized government of Sudan contr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_civil_war_(2023–prese…
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 9: “More than three years of civil war have crippled Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results from April 2026 confirm that the war in Sudan has lasted three years and has devastated the public health infrastructure.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 14, 2026 ... The war in Sudan has devastated the country's public infrastructure, including its health system. More than 70% of Sudan's hospitals have ...
https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-sudan-what-happening-a…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 16, 2026 ... After 20 months of fighting that has devastated agricultural production, destroyed market systems, displaced 12 million people, and obstructed ...
https://www.facebook.com/corybooker/posts/its-been-three-yea…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Attacks on health care further weaken Sudan's system ... Since April 2023, more than 2,000 people have been killed and 720 injured in 213 attacks on health ...
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/three-years-war…
verified
Claim 10: “According to the October 2025 Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) report cited in a WHO Public Health Situation Analysis from January 6, 2026, 40 percent of health facilities nationwide are entirely nonoperational.”
VERIFIED
A specific 'Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA)' dated January 6, 2026, explicitly states that the October 2025 HeRAMS report indicates 40% of health facilities are non-operational.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — HeRAMS (Health Resources Availability Mapping System) is an electronic system for monitoring medical resources, a WHO tool for standardizing and assessing the availability of medical services, mostly …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeRAMS
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Rapid Support Forces (RSF; Arabic: قُوَّاتْ الدّعْمْ السَّرِيعْ, romanized: Quwwāt ad-daʿm as-sarīʿ) are a Sudanese paramilitary force formerly operated by the Sudanese government. They originated…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Support_Forces
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — 2025 (MMXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2025th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 25th year of the 3rd millennium and the 2…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 11: “A United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) emergency report from August 2025 highlighted that the only functioning maternity hospital in the besieged city of el-Fasher faces critical medicine shortages and risks imminent closure.”
VERIFIED
The UNFPA Situation Report 23 from August 1, 2025, explicitly states that the maternity hospital in El Fasher is the only remaining functioning hospital in the city and is running critically low on supplies.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Diene Keita (born 19 August 1964) is a Guinean politician and global development leader currently serving as the Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. She was appointed to t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diene_Keita
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Natalia Mikhailovna Vodianova (Russian: Наталья Михайловна Водянова, lit. 'nɐˈtalʲjə mʲɪˈxajləvnə vədʲɪˈnovə'; born 28 February 1982) is a Russian fashion model and United Nations goodwill ambassador.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalia_Vodianova
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Olivia Frances Culpo (born May 8, 1992) is an American model, actress, and media personality. Culpo has won Miss Rhode Island USA, Miss USA 2012, and Miss Universe 2012.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Culpo
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 12: “The war, which erupted as a power struggle between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has killed more than 50,000 people and displaced 14 million”
CORROBORATED
Wikipedia confirms the conflict is between the SAF and RSF. Web search results provide death toll estimates (61,000 to 150,000) that encompass the 'more than 50,000' claim, and displacement figures are widely reported in the millions.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since April 2023, there has been a civil war in Sudan between the two main factions of the country's military government. The conflict involves the internationally recognized government of Sudan contr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_civil_war_(2023–prese…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Sudanese Air Force (Arabic: القوّات الجوّيّة السودانيّة, romanized: Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya) is the aerial warfare branch of the Sudanese Armed Forces. It was established in 1956 followin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_Air_Force
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF; Arabic: القوات المسلحة السودانية, romanized: Al-Qūwāt Al-Musallaḥah as-Sūdāniyah) are the military forces of the Republic of Sudan. The force strength has been estimate…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_Armed_Forces
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 13: “According to a World Health Organization (WHO) news release dated April 14, 2026, Sudan represents the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 21 million people lacking basic healthcare services out of 34 million needing aid.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While general news sources are listed, no specific WHO news release from April 14, 2026, containing these exact figures (21 million/34 million) was found in the provided evidence.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Battle of Khartoum was a major strategic battle for control of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, with fighting in and around the city between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the Sud…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khartoum_(2023–2025)
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since gaining independence in 1956, Sudan has witnessed a protracted series of coups d'état, totalling 20 coup attempts, of which 7 were successful, which places Sudan as the African nation with the m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coups_d'état_in_Sudan
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Libya to the northwest, Egypt to the north, t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan
+ 3 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 14: “Sudanese rights group the Emergency Lawyers reported that the army was behind the attack [on Al-Daein Teaching Hospital].”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.