The journey to stop measles in West Darfur

As the rest of the country slept, a small team moved quietly through the darkness toward Mestura, one of the most hard-to-reach-areas in West Darfur State. 

Their mission was simple, but urgent: reach children before measles did. 

Located 36 kms from Kulbus town, Mestura, is home to nearly 21,000 people. Months of active conflict had cut it off completely. Roads were unsafe. Shelling and bombardment occurred daily. Movement was restricted. Health services had all but collapsed. 

And amidst all this, another threat was spreading – Measles. 

With no access to routine immunization, children were left vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2025 alone, over 1,600 suspected measles and rubella cases -and 15 deaths - were reported. For survivors, the consequences can last a lifetime.

Since the onset of the conflict, childhood vaccinations have not stopped despite continued bureaucratic and access challenges. 

Together with the state immunization team, Mohammed embarked on an ambitious mission to save children during the Measles and Rubella catchup campaign across Darfur, launched by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF and Gavi. Across Darfur more than 6.6 million vaccine doses were dispatched, to protect over 6 million children aged 9 months to under 15 years.

Reaching Mestura, seemed impossible.

The journey before sunrise

With fighting ongoing, the team had to adapt. For days, they studied patterns of attacks, searching for the safest window to move.

Before dawn one morning, they set off.

Led by Maken, the local immunization team lead, the group traveled under cover of darkness using horse-drawn carts packed with vaccines and other supplies- faster than the donkey, yet less risky than the vehicles. Along the way, they stopped repeatedly, taking cover at the sound of distant gunfire.  

The risks were high. But so was the urgency.

For the team, the memory of children already lost to measles—a preventable disease—was impossible to ignore. Many more were still at risk.

A milestone for the children and community

In Mestura, news of their arrival spread very quickly. 

By the time the horse carts arrived, mothers and caregivers were already waiting with  their children. Fear of disease had kept many awake through the night.

Vaccination points were set up wherever possible- even under the shade of a tree. One by one, children were vaccinated. 

By the end of the campaign, 7,036 children in Mestura—previously cut off by conflict—had been vaccinated against measles and rubella.

For families, it brought relief. For the team, it was a moment of quiet triumph.

More than a mission

But the work is far from over.

As conflict continues across Sudan, millions of children remain at risk. Sustained, safe and unimpeded access is critical to prevent further outbreaks and protect every child.

For Mohammed, Maken and their colleagues, the journey to Mestura was more than a successful campaign.

It was a reminder of what is possible—even in the most fragile settings—when determination, partnership and community come together for children.