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CONTEXT
Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has driven one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with over half of Sudan’s population now in urgent need of assistance.
More than 9.3 million people are displaced within Sudan, while a further 4.3 million have fled to neighbouring countries. Famine conditions, the collapse of health services and widespread sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) have disproportionately affected women and children. Prolonged exposure to conflict, violence and instability has resulted in widespread psychological distress, with many people experiencing depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, major gaps in mental health services persist, leaving needs largely unmet. In 2025, the United Nations and partners reached 16.8 million people with at least one form of assistance. As of 30 September 2025, health partners had reached 4.1 million people – less than 50% of those targeted – underscoring the urgent need to expand humanitarian access, de-escalate hostilities and sustain funding for life-saving assistance.
In 2026, Sudan faces a deepening health and humanitarian emergency, with 33.7 million people requiring urgent assistance, including 7.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs). WHO plans to respond to almost 21 million people in need, including 4.9 million IDPs, with 6.6 million targeted for health services. Nearly 80% of people targeted for assistance are located in areas with multiple vulnerability factors and are therefore prioritized for response. Furthermore, an estimated 37% of health facilities are non-functional, while only 63% remain at least partially functional, leaving large segments of the population without access to essential health care. Attacks on health facilities, shortages of health workers and economic instability have further weakened the health system.
An estimated 8.1 million women and girls of reproductive age, including over 803 000 pregnant women, require urgent reproductive health services, with nearly 1.1 million births expected in 2026. In addition, food insecurity remains widespread, with more than half of the population experiencing acute food insecurity in 2025, including 755 000 people in famine-like conditions. An estimated 778 000 children suffered from severe acute malnutrition, of whom 116 800 required inpatient care. In the first half of 2026, 19.1 million people are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, including 145 656 people in catastrophic conditions. Twenty areas across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan remain at risk of famine, with continued conflict making further deterioration highly likely.
Frequent outbreaks of cholera, measles, malaria, polio and dengue, combined with low routine immunization coverage and more than 30% of children remaining unvaccinated, continue to place severe strain on an already fragile health system. Vulnerable populations, particularly women, children and persons with disabilities, are the most affected.