Three years of relentless conflict have plunged Sudan into the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, leaving an estimated 34 million people in desperate need of aid. The nation’s already fragile health system, further weakened by widespread disease and chronic hunger, has been systematically crippled by repeated attacks, leaving 21 million individuals without access to essential health services. While pockets of improvement are noted in some Sudanese states, the health emergency is intensifying in areas where fighting rages unabated. Disease outbreaks are escalating, malnutrition rates are soaring, and the shrinking capacity of healthcare facilities, coupled with dwindling funding, paints a grim picture of a nation teetering on the brink.
"The war in Sudan is devastating lives and denying people their most basic rights, including health, water, food and safety. The health system has been crippled, leaving millions without essential health care," stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). "Doctors and health workers can save lives, but they must have safe places to work and the medicines and supplies they need. Ultimately, the best medicine is peace."
The gravity of the situation is underscored by alarming figures. Projections from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Alert, dated February 5, 2026, indicate that over 4 million people are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026. This dire condition renders individuals, particularly children, highly vulnerable to life-threatening medical complications and the spread of infectious diseases.
The nation is grappling with a pervasive surge in disease outbreaks. Reports from numerous states, including Al Jazirah, Darfur, Gedaref, Khartoum, Kordofan, River Nile, and White Nile, confirm widespread incidences of malaria, dengue fever, measles, polio (circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 – cVDPV2), hepatitis E, meningitis, and diphtheria. These outbreaks are overwhelming an already overstretched and damaged healthcare infrastructure.
Across Sudan’s 18 states, a staggering 37% of health facilities are currently non-functional. The deliberate targeting of health infrastructure, including hospitals, ambulances, patients, and healthcare professionals, has severely curtailed access to medical care. This is particularly acute in conflict-affected regions, where medical facilities are either operating at a fraction of their capacity or have been forced to shut down entirely due to the destruction of buildings and vital medical equipment.
Since April 15, 2023, the WHO has verified a shocking 217 attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel, resulting in an estimated 2,052 deaths and 810 injuries. These attacks not only decimate the physical infrastructure but also instill profound fear and trauma among healthcare workers, further exacerbating the staffing shortages and the reluctance of medical professionals to serve in high-risk areas.
The Greater Darfur and Kordofan regions have been particularly hard-hit. Intense fighting has displaced millions, severing vital supply lines for humanitarian aid and restricting the movement of essential medical supplies. A recent devastating attack on El Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur serves as a stark illustration of this crisis. The assault resulted in at least 64 fatalities, including children and healthcare workers, and rendered the hospital, a critical referral center for hundreds of thousands, non-functional. Such incidents exemplify the deliberate obstruction of life-saving services in conflict zones.
"Three years in conflict have turned Sudan into the world’s largest ongoing health crisis, where disease is spreading, malnutrition is rising, and access to health care is rapidly declining," stated Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. "With millions lacking basic medical care, facing hunger, and at risk of disease, Sudan’s health crisis continues to deepen, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian support and long-term solutions. We remain committed to the people of Sudan."
A System Under Siege: Background and Chronology of the Crisis
The current humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan is a direct consequence of the armed conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict quickly devolved into a nationwide struggle, characterized by widespread violence, displacement, and the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, including vital healthcare facilities.
April 15, 2023: Fighting breaks out in Khartoum and rapidly spreads to other parts of the country, marking the beginning of the current phase of the conflict.
Early Months (2023): Initial reports emerge of healthcare facilities being damaged or occupied by armed groups. Access to medical services becomes increasingly difficult in major urban centers and conflict zones.
Mid-2023: Disease outbreaks, including cholera and measles, begin to be reported with increasing frequency, exacerbated by disrupted water and sanitation systems and a compromised healthcare response.
Late 2023 – Early 2024: The scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes undeniable. International organizations, including the WHO, issue increasingly urgent warnings about the collapsing health system and soaring malnutrition rates. Displacement numbers reach millions.
February 2026: The IPC Alert highlights the dire malnutrition situation, projecting over 4 million acutely malnourished individuals. The WHO releases updated figures on attacks against healthcare, revealing the extensive damage and loss of life.
April 15, 2026: Editorial changes are made to a WHO news release, underscoring the ongoing nature of the crisis and the continuous efforts to monitor and report on its impact.
The conflict’s impact on the health sector has been multifaceted and devastating. Beyond direct attacks, the war has led to:
- Mass Displacement: Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, often into areas with limited or no healthcare access, creating new burdens on already strained facilities.
- Disruption of Supply Chains: The movement of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical equipment has been severely hampered by insecurity and bureaucratic hurdles, leading to critical shortages.
- Exodus of Healthcare Workers: Many doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals have fled the country or been displaced due to insecurity, further depleting the workforce.
- Economic Collapse: The war has crippled Sudan’s economy, leading to hyperinflation and making it increasingly difficult for individuals to afford basic healthcare services and essential medicines, even when available.
- Breakdown of Public Health Systems: Routine immunization programs, disease surveillance, and essential public health services have been severely disrupted, creating fertile ground for preventable diseases to spread.
The Human Cost: Voices from the Frontlines and International Condemnation
The human toll of this escalating health crisis is immeasurable. For millions of Sudanese, the nearest functioning health facility is now days away, requiring perilous journeys across active conflict zones. In the Kordofan regions, repeated assaults on healthcare facilities have not only destroyed infrastructure but have also resulted in the deaths and injuries of patients, including children. These attacks have had a devastating impact, leaving communities without any accessible medical support.
The deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities is a grave violation of international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and medical personnel, during armed conflict. The consistent disregard for these principles by warring factions has amplified the suffering of the Sudanese population.
The international community has expressed profound concern and condemnation. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to scale up their operations due to funding shortfalls and access restrictions. The United Nations and its agencies have repeatedly called for unhindered humanitarian access and for all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law.
WHO’s Sustained Response: A Lifeline in the Midst of Crisis
Despite the overwhelming challenges, the World Health Organization has maintained a crucial presence on the ground since the conflict’s inception. Its efforts have focused on providing critical supplies, bolstering disease surveillance, delivering essential training to healthcare workers, and coordinating the overall humanitarian health response.
"WHO has been on the ground since the start of the conflict, with supplies, disease surveillance, training and coordination," affirmed Dr. Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan. "As access to some areas opens up, we are stepping up efforts to support early recovery and rehabilitation of the health system alongside the humanitarian response."
WHO’s multifaceted response includes:
- Supply Chain Support: The organization is actively working to ensure the availability of essential medicines, medical supplies, and equipment. Since April 2023, WHO has delivered over 3,300 metric tons of vital medical cargo, encompassing treatments for cholera, malaria, malnutrition, and trauma care.
- Service Delivery: WHO-supported services have provided essential healthcare to over 4.1 million people through primary healthcare centers, mobile clinics, and hospitals. This vital support has reached vulnerable populations in remote and conflict-affected areas.
- Malnutrition Treatment: WHO has been instrumental in supporting the treatment of over 118,000 children suffering from complicated severe acute malnutrition, a condition that can be fatal if left untreated.
- Vaccination Campaigns: Recognizing the critical need to prevent outbreaks, WHO has supported extensive vaccination campaigns, reaching more than 46 million children and adults with vaccines against cholera, polio, diphtheria, measles, and rubella. Notably, Sudan was the first country in the region to introduce malaria vaccines into its routine immunization program, a significant step in combating this prevalent disease.
- Outbreak Containment: WHO worked collaboratively with the Federal and State Ministries of Health and partners to contain two major cholera outbreaks. The most recent outbreak, declared over in March 2026, required a sustained response lasting over a year, including oral cholera vaccination campaigns that successfully reached 24.5 million people.
- Restoration of Public Health Services: WHO has played a pivotal role in restoring key public health services, including the functionality of state and national reference laboratories, which are crucial for disease diagnosis and monitoring.
The success of these interventions is heavily reliant on the generous support of donors and development partners, whose contributions have enabled the provision of medical supplies, equipment, operational support, and crucial technical assistance.
Broader Implications and the Path Forward
The escalating health crisis in Sudan has far-reaching implications, not only for the nation itself but also for regional stability and global health security. The unchecked spread of infectious diseases within Sudan poses a significant risk of cross-border transmission, potentially overwhelming neighboring countries’ already strained healthcare systems.
The protracted conflict and its devastating humanitarian consequences also threaten to create a lost generation of Sudanese children, whose physical and mental development is severely impacted by malnutrition, disease, and the trauma of war. The long-term economic and social fabric of the nation is at risk of irreparable damage.
WHO reiterates its unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of all people in Sudan. However, to effectively address this multifaceted crisis, several critical actions are urgently required:
- Unrestricted and Safe Access: All parties to the conflict must guarantee immediate, safe, and unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations and their personnel to all areas of Sudan. This is essential for delivering life-saving assistance to those in need.
- Protection of Healthcare: The deliberate targeting of health facilities, personnel, and patients must cease immediately. International humanitarian law must be respected, and healthcare facilities must be recognized as neutral zones dedicated to saving lives.
- Sustained Humanitarian Funding: The international community must significantly increase humanitarian funding to support the ongoing response and prevent further deterioration of the situation. This includes funding for health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and protection services.
- Long-Term Development and Peacebuilding: Beyond immediate humanitarian relief, there is an urgent need for sustained investment in long-term development and peacebuilding efforts. Addressing the root causes of the conflict and fostering an environment of peace and stability is paramount for the sustainable recovery of Sudan’s health system and its society as a whole.
The path to recovery for Sudan is arduous and fraught with challenges. However, the persistent commitment of organizations like the WHO, coupled with robust international support and, most crucially, the cessation of hostilities, offers a glimmer of hope. As Dr. Ghebreyesus aptly stated, "Ultimately, the best medicine is peace." Without lasting peace, the aspiration of attaining health for all Sudanese people will remain an elusive dream. The world watches, and hopes, for a swift end to the violence and a renewed commitment to rebuilding a nation devastated by conflict.
