From the Flames of War to the Realm of Global Recognition
16 November, 2025
Port Sudan, (Sudanow) – Since the outbreak of war in Sudan, the health system has suffered a massive collapse. Most hospitals were forced to shut down, rendered inoperative by relentless daily bombardments, deteriorating working conditions, and severe shortages of resources. Amid this tragic landscape, Al-Naw Hospital in Omdurman remained one of the few medical centers, continuing to receive the wounded and displaced despite the risks.
From the heart of this devastation, a beacon of humanity emerged with the victory of Dr. Jamal Al-Tayeb, who was awarded the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity 2025 in recognition of his courage in saving innocent lives and managing Al-Naw Hospital under the fire of war and the collapse of the health system.
Sudanow spoke to Dr. Jamal Al-Tayeb on phone to discuss his award and shed the light on the challenges he and his team faced, and how they overcame them.
Dr. Jamal said: “The hospital staff worked under bombardment in extremely harsh and pressing conditions, our building was directly targeted four times and repeatedly struck by shells falling in its vicinity. We lost one volunteer inside the hospital, and some co-patients and guards were killed as a result of the shelling.”
The director of Al-Naw Hospital added: “The team demonstrated extraordinary bravery. We worked around the clock, ready to receive patients, the wounded, and displaced people affected by the war. Personally, I worked 14 to 16 hours daily, and sometimes we stayed inside the hospital for three consecutive days due to the overwhelming number of casualties and the workload.”
Dr. Jamal explained that he was surprised by his nomination for the Aurora Prize, not knowing who nominated or voted for him. Speaking about how he intends to use the prize money, he said: “Even before receiving the award, we were treating the wounded and war-affected with modest support from local organizations. I plan to invest the money of this prize in treating injured children and amputees, providing them with emergency care and prosthetic limbs so they can continue their lives.”
He added: “In recent months, we documented more than one hundred children injured by remnants of war while playing in areas surrounded by landmines and explosives. If the hospital receives sufficient support from health organizations, we will expand our initiatives to treat adult amputees, provide prosthetics, and conduct reconstructive surgeries.”
The hospital director also noted: “We have a department for psychological and neurological care that provides support to those suffering from trauma and mental health issues caused by the war. The hospital remains ready to receive more cases.”
Launched in 2016, the Aurora Prize is awarded annually to individuals who dedicate their lives to saving others and defending human dignity. Valued at one million US dollars, most of the prize is allocated to humanitarian organizations chosen by the laureate. The selection committee includes prominent figures such as Shirin Ebadi, Leymah Gbowee, and Mary Robinson, with George Clooney serving as Honorary Co-Chair.
Dr. Jamal intends to dedicate this award to expanding his humanitarian work, which has crossed borders and touched lives in moments of despair. Behind this victory lie powerful human stories of patients and displaced people who found in Al-Naw Hospital their last refuge.
Many survived death thanks to the tireless efforts of Dr. Al-Tayeb and his team, who continued working despite power outages and shortages of medicine. These stories affirm that humanity can endure even in the darkest of times.
This global recognition stands as a testament that Sudan, despite its challenges, continues to produce individuals who reject indifference and embody compassion and commitment—echoing the words of Chelsea Clinton.
This achievement is not merely a personal triumph, but a testimony to the ability of Sudanese people to transform pain into global humanitarian action. It sends a message that solidarity and humanitarian work can change realities, even in the harshest environments. It also reaffirms the importance of international solidarity with afflicted communities.
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