Khartoum, Sudan — 2026-03-09 Volunteers Revitalize Sudan’s Oldest Psychiatric Hospital After War Damage. Two years following the outbreak of civil war in Sudan, volunteers are working tirelessly to reconstruct the nation’s oldest psychiatric hospital, Al-Tijani Al-Mahi, which was severely damaged during the conflict.
The hospital, established in 1971 and among the oldest psychiatric facilities in Central and East Africa, has been stripped of its medical equipment and furnishings, leaving it in disrepair.
The war, which escalated between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, forced families like Rafeeda Abubakr and her husband to flee their home in Shuqailab. Returning to Khartoum, they sought help for their 21-year-old son, Muaz, who had become addicted to “ice, “a methamphetamine variant.
The family discovered the Al — Tijani Al-Mahi Hospital, which had reopened and launched a War Patients Initiative to assist those affected by the conflict.
The hospital’s director, Dr. Mai Mohamed Youssef, who has worked at the facility since 1998, rejected the government’s order to demolish the remaining buildings. Instead, she led a team in reversing the decision and reopened the hospital.
Today, the facility operates under challenging conditions, with no running water or electricity, powered by solar panels and a small, dedicated volunteer team.
The hospital currently receives between 60 and 70 patients daily, including children, women, and men suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and drug addiction.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the war has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with over 33.
7 million people requiring urgent assistance.
The WHO also notes that the prolonged exposure to conflict has led to widespread psychological distress, with large numbers of people experiencing depression, anxiety, and post — traumatic stress disorder. Dr.
Youssef has observed a shift in Sudanese society, where seeking psychiatric help has historically been stigmatized.
She notes that people are increasingly recognizing the limitations of traditional healers and religious figures, turning instead to psychiatric services.
The hospital expects to admit patients within three months, once its inpatient care facilities are fully operational.
For now, the hospital runs on solar power, a small volunteer team, and the determination of Dr. Youssef, who remained at her desk throughout the war and returned to continue her work.
Rafeeda Abubakr and her son continue to receive treatment, hopeful for a brighter future.
