For more than a decade, Dr. Evan Atar has been providing life-saving medical care for the sick and injured at a remote hospital in the Blue Nile region of southern Sudan. Kurmuk Hospital has become a beacon of hope for more than 220,000 people who live in an area where healthcare is virtually non-existent.

In the beginning, Dr. Atar used a rusty tractor to transport the few small boxes of medical supplies he could find from a village about 60 miles away. The hospital was run-down and overloaded with war casualties.

Because Kurmuk was on the frontlines, most organizations were unable or unwilling to work there. The staff labored around the clock, often without pay, performing surgeries with equipment ingeniously pieced together from scavenged parts.

Recognizing the desperate need of the people and the selfless dedication of Dr. Atar and his staff, Samaritan’s Purse offered assistance.

Relief teams immediately began rehabilitating the crumbling facility by flying in equipment and supplies. Doctors followed to help with surgeries and to provide advanced training for the staff. The hospital became the only modern facility in the area, and people started coming from miles away for treatment.

“Samaritan’s Purse came to help us when others would not step foot here,” Dr. Atar said. “They slept on the ground with us. They treated us like brothers.”

A wildfire recently raged through the area, destroying parts of the hospital. Medical equipment, vehicles, and tools were consumed by the flames, along with several buildings.

Despite the set-back, Dr. Atar wasn’t discouraged. Rebuilding and repair was soon underway.

“We are so thankful to Samaritan’s Purse for giving us a real hospital,” Dr. Atar said. “We tell our patients that this place is proof that Jesus is real, and He did not forget them during the war.”

Dr. Atar is quick to downplay his role in the hospital’s success.

“Someone once asked me why I chose to serve in Kurmuk,” Dr. Atar said. “The decision to be here was easy because I know my life doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to God.”

Samaritan's Purse , Sudan , Sudan Global Day of Prayer , Help For The Hurting