Last Hope in the Nuba Mountains
Dr. Tom Sends Emergency Call for Supplies as War Escalates
23 year-old Mohamed Radi lies on a bed in a tented courtyard outside Mother of Mercy Hospital, recovering from a drone strike that claimed his right foot. Beside him is a young man whose leg was mangled by a landmine. Both were saved by emergency treatment at Mother of Mercy, the remote hospital 1.3 million people rely on for medical care. It’s the only one of its kind for hundreds of miles in the Nuba Mountains.
Hurry, Match Deadline Is October 17!
Dr. Tom has directed the hospital since helping to start it 17 years ago. For most of that time he has been its only residing surgeon. During that time he’s seen everything. But now he’s worried.
The drain on the hospital due to war, famine, and the cholera outbreak is exhausting supplies. The hospital depends on these vital resources to be shipped in from the outside. Dr. Tom has reached out to ask for help. In response, a Sudan Relief Fund donor graciously pledged to TRIPLE MATCH EVERY GIFT to support Mother of Mercy Hospital. That means your gift will provide care for three times as many patients through October 17th to help Dr. Tom save lives.
Fighting to survive. This hospital is the only hope for a mother and her baby, and thousands of others across Nuba.
Dr. Tom has dedicated his life to caring for the sick and the wounded here for almost 20 years. During the reign of terror against Christians and non-Muslims under Sudan’s previous dictator, Omar al-Bashir, Dr. Tom was the only doctor in the Nuba Mountains — refusing to leave even as the Sudanese government targeted the region. While most fled, he stayed behind to save lives.
But right now, the challenges Dr. Tom and the hospital face are greater than ever.
Sudan is in its third year of a devastating war. The capital city of Khartoum has been largely destroyed. People fleeing violence have poured into the Nuba Mountains, doubling the size of its population. Over one million people have already sought refuge there, and more arrive every day.
The strain of famine, war injuries, and a new cholera outbreak weighs heavily on Dr. Tom.
Victims of War
Hospital staff are treating a tremendous uptick of war injuries now: children with shrapnel wounds and families with burn injuries from bombings. Or young men like Mohamed, some of whom sign up to join the fight willingly, while other boys are forcibly conscripted into warfare.
There are no ambulances or high-level trauma centers here. In many places there are scarcely any roads. Just Dr. Tom and his committed staff stretching the resources they have as far as they can – all of which rely on donations from compassionate supporters.
“Sudan is recognized as the largest displacement crisis
in the world.”
– UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Cries for help. The hospital is inundated with families suffering shrapnel wounds and burn injuries from the war.
Victims of Displacement
The massive displacement and interruption of farming has led to widespread famine. The hospital has seen this in the overcrowded children’s ward, where staff is treating record numbers of malnourished babies and children.
Desperate mothers come for miles and days to find help for their hungry children. The hospital is administering shipments of Plumpy’Nut, a nutritional supplement especially formulated for victims of severe malnutrition, to treat throngs of starving children.
“We have heard of Dr. Tom. He’s a good man. We love him.”
Layla Mohammed, 40, is one such mother. She traveled by tuk-tuk for five days to reach the hospital in hopes of getting help for her severely malnourished daughter. “We have heard of Dr. Tom,” she says. “They say he has treated millions of people. He’s a good man. We love him.”
Victims of Cholera
Making the crisis even worse is a deadly cholera epidemic sweeping the nation. Crowded living conditions, shortage of clean water, lack of sanitation, and weak families with depleted immune systems contribute to the outbreak. As of mid-August, nearly 100,000 cholera cases have been reported and over 2,400 deaths.
Working around the clock. Dr. Tom’s team waits anxiously for supplies to keep up with overwhelming numbers of patients.
“Children whose bodies are weakened by hunger are far more likely to contract cholera and die from it.” – UNICEF
Hospital Supplies Needed – Time is Critical
Dr. Tom has asked for essential supplies like quick-acting hydration therapy, antibiotics, water purification tablets, and critical medicines. Illness and casualties are surging. Medicine and resources are depleted. Your gift today will multiply to send THREE TIMES the medicine and supplies to this hospital that is the only lifeline in the Nuba Mountains for hundreds of miles.
Hurry, Match Deadline Is October 17!
Dr. Tom made the decision before to stay here during wartime, at great risk to himself, in order to save lives. Once again, Dr. Tom is standing his ground to save lives in the midst of war. Will you stand by him now by providing the supplies he needs to help others?
The renowned Dr. Tom has saved thousands of lives at great risk to himself. Now he needs our help.
This is an incredible opportunity to help Dr. Tom and support the work of Mother of Mercy in a very impactful way. Your gift will only triple through October 17th, so please respond today.
