South Sudan: A hospital on the front line
The hospital in Kodok, South Sudan sits on the front line between warring parties. It is fully operational today, but the tension of conflict lies all around.
In July the hospital was caught in the crossfire during a battle. Bullet holes pierced the hospital fence and the corner of the building was hit. Two people on the hospital grounds – one of them a patient – were killed. Most of the medical staff fled, and an ICRC surgical team was forced to leave due to the danger. In the subsequent days an additional 11 patients died.
Joseph Deng, a patient who was seeking treatment for a bullet wound to his right leg, was inside the hospital when it was caught up in the battle. He had to flee then but recently returned for further treatment.
“When we came back we were well received and we found those who fled the hospital, those who were scared at the time of the attack, including doctors and workers, have come back too. They were happy when they saw us,” said Deng, who walks with the help of crutches.
Diane Yanise Akuch, an ICRC staff member from South Sudan who works inside the hospital, was at home when the fighting broke out near the hospital.
“When I was hiding under the bed I was thinking, like, a lot of the people was dying,” she said. “I was thinking of the people who was just living next to the hospital. And the one who was in the hospital I was thinking all of them was dying.”
Dr. Dak Nyikango, the hospital director, says the security concerns for the hospital have subsided for now. The ICRC surgical team that briefly pulled out has returned and has resumed performing medical procedures.
The humanitarian consequences of two years of warfare in South Sudan remain severe. Millions of residents have been forced to flee their homes. For residents on the run, life remains chaotic, and finding food and health care can be a major challenge.
Shotlist
Location: Kodok, South Sudan
Length: 4:57
Format: HD mov H264
Producer: Jason Straziuso & Nicola Fell
Camera: Joe Mwihia
Sound: English
ICRC ref: AV389N2
Filming Dates: Nov. 10-12, 2015
Copyright: ICRC access all
0:00 Shot of exterior sign of Kodok hospital
0:05 Woman exiting hospital, walking past ICRC vehicle
0:12 Exterior of Kodok hospital
0:19 Rear of Kodok hospital showing where cross fire from fighting hit the hospital
0:25 Kodok resident walking past old military vehicle
0:30 Close up of military vehicle
0:34 Mother and child walking inside the hospital
0:40 Group of patients waiting to see a doctor
0:45 Close-up of child lying on floor0:50 Close-up of different child sitting on floor
0:50 Close-up of different child sitting on floor
0:57 ICRC staff member Diane Yanise Akuch standing in patient’s room with medical staff
1:02 Second view of same scene
1:07 Close-up of Diane’s face
1:11 SOUNDBITE Diane Yanise Akuch (in English)
“When I was hiding under the bed I was thinking like a lot of the people was dying during the gunship shooting. I was thinking of the people who was just living next to the hospital. And the one who was in the hospital I was thinking all of them was dying. That’s what I was thinking.”
1:38 Dr. Dak Nyikango, the Kodok hospital director, enters his office.
1:43 Dr. Dak greets patients inside a hospital room
1:49 Medical personnel standing in a patient room
1:54 Patients waiting in hospital hallway
1:59 Close-up of patient lying on a stretcher
2:05 Dr. Dak examining patient lying on a stretcher
2:14 Dr. Dak walking into the paediatric room
2:21 Second shot of Dr. Dak inside the paediatric room
2:30 Exterior shot of Dr. Dak showing bullet holes in hospital fence
2:36 SOUNDBITE Dr. Dak Nyikango
“I didn’t leave because I need to help the people. They need help. So our staff they come also, they work.”
2:48 Set up shots of patient Joseph Deng in the hospital.
2:54 Patient Joseph Deng walking out of hospital room
2:58 Joseph Deng walking down hospital hallway
3:02 Close up of Joseph walking
3:07 Joseph walking out of the hospital grounds
3:11 Joseph walking past hospital sign
3:16 SOUNDBITE Joseph Deng (in Arabic)
“They were not expecting me to come back walking with my leg because I was badly injured, like three-fourths of the patients who were at the hospital. When we came back, thanks to God, I have been treated and my leg became better than before. When we came back we were well received and we found those who fled the hospital, those who were scared at the time of the attack, including doctors and workers, have come back too. They were happy when they saw us.”
3:50 An ICRC surgeon prepping a patient for a procedure
3:57 Close up of the patient’s leg
4:05 Surgical team prepping the patient
4:12 Close up of baby on operating table
4:24 Close up of surgical overhead lights
4:30 Close up of surgery being performed
4:35 Wide shot of surgery being performed on baby
4:40 Shot of medical instrument
4:44 Joseph Deng walking out of hospital grounds
4:48 Dr. Dak sitting in field near hospital
4:52 Close up of Dr. Dak sitting with Red Cross flag in background
4:57 END
