- 21 million Sudanese lack access to basic health services due to the country’s humanitarian crisis.
- Sudan’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse due to repeated attacks on medical facilities and mass displacement.
- The war has disrupted supply chains, driven out medical staff, and intensified outbreaks of cholera, measles, and malaria.
- Hospitals in active conflict zones operate without power or clean water, and medical supplies are critically low.
- Malnutrition among children under five has reached alarming levels, particularly in displacement camps.
Three years into a devastating civil conflict, Sudan is enduring the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 34 million people—more than half the population—requiring urgent assistance. Of these, 21 million lack access to basic health services, according to the World Health Organization. Repeated attacks on medical facilities, mass displacement, and a crumbling infrastructure have left the country’s healthcare system on the verge of total collapse. The war, which erupted in April 2021 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has disrupted supply chains, driven out medical staff, and intensified outbreaks of cholera, measles, and malaria.
Rising Disease and Systemic Collapse
Sudan’s health crisis is growing most severely in active conflict zones, including Khartoum, Darfur, and parts of Kordofan. Hospitals operate without power or clean water, and medical supplies are critically low. The WHO reports over 20,000 suspected cholera cases and nearly 10,000 measles infections since the start of 2024, with case fatality rates exceeding emergency thresholds. Malnutrition among children under five has reached alarming levels, particularly in displacement camps. Humanitarian access remains limited due to insecurity and bureaucratic obstacles, hindering aid delivery even where needs are greatest. The WHO continues to coordinate emergency responses, but funding gaps threaten ongoing operations.
Years of Instability Take Their Toll
The current health emergency is the culmination of years of political instability, economic decline, and underfunded public services, even before the war. Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure was already fragile, with shortages of trained personnel and medicines. The conflict has exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabilities, displacing over 10 million people—the largest such crisis globally. Many health facilities have been damaged or repurposed, and attacks on medical workers violate international humanitarian law. In 2023, the UN documented over 50 targeted assaults on health infrastructure, further eroding trust and capacity.
What to Watch
Humanitarian agencies warn that without increased funding and improved access, the health situation could deteriorate further, with potential regional spillover effects. The upcoming rainy season may intensify disease transmission, particularly waterborne illnesses. Diplomatic efforts to secure humanitarian corridors are ongoing, but progress remains slow. The international community is under pressure to scale up support ahead of a planned UN aid appeal later this year.
Source: WHO