In 2021, Sudan faced major challenges in responding to the COVID‑19 pandemic, particularly in ensuring the effective rollout of vaccines across a country with fragile health infrastructure and limited cold‑chain capacity. Reliable refrigeration systems were urgently needed to safely store and transport vaccines, especially in remote and high‑temperature environments.
On 2 June 2021, Sudan formally requested vaccine refrigerators through the European Union Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). In response, Luxembourg rapidly mobilised support and, by 17 June, committed to providing six solar‑compatible vaccine freezers.
Procured through LuxDev from B Medical Systems, the units were specially designed for challenging environments. Each freezer included:
- Integrated data loggers for temperature monitoring
- Voltage stabilizers to handle unstable power supply
- Compatibility with solar energy systems, ensuring continuous operation in off‑grid locations
Coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MAE) under the emergency.lu framework, the operation was part of the wider European response, with 75% of transport costs reimbursed by the EU (ECHO).
The equipment was carefully packed into six no‑nail transport boxes and shipped by air freight on 12 September 2021, via Luxembourg, Brussels, and Istanbul to Khartoum. Upon arrival, the units were delivered to the Federal Ministry of Health, supporting the country’s nationwide vaccination rollout.
