Sudan’s Health Crisis Worsens After Three Years of War: 34 Million in Need

After three years of conflict, Sudan is now home to the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. About 34 million people require aid, 21 million have no access to health services, and repeated attacks have destroyed a medical system already weakened by disease and hunger.

While conditions are improving in some areas, the health emergency is getting worse in regions where fighting continues. Disease outbreaks and malnutrition are on the rise, access to medical care is shrinking, and funding is not enough to meet the need.

“The war in Sudan is destroying 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,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “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.”

More than 4 million people are expected to be severely malnourished in 2026, according to an IPC Alert from February 5, 2026. This makes them more likely to suffer from medical complications and disease.

Disease outbreaks are widespread. Malaria, dengue, measles, polio (cVDPV2), hepatitis E, meningitis, and diphtheria have been reported in several states, including Al Jazirah, Darfur, Gedaref, Khartoum, Kordofan, River Nile, and White Nile states.

Across all 18 states in Sudan, 37% of health facilities are not working. Health facilities, ambulances, patients, and health workers have been attacked many times, making it even harder to get medical care. This is especially true in conflict zones, where hospitals are only partly open or have shut down because buildings and equipment were destroyed.

Since April 15, 2023, WHO has confirmed 217 attacks on health care. These attacks have caused 2,052 deaths and 810 injuries.

In the Greater Darfur and Kordofan regions, fighting has forced people from their homes and severely limited the movement of humanitarian supplies. For example, a recent attack on El Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur made the crisis worse. At least 64 people died, including children and health workers, and the hospital is no longer working. This hospital was a critical referral center for hundreds of thousands of people across East Darfur.

“Three years of 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 quickly declining,” said 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. This shows the urgent need for humanitarian support and long-term solutions. We remain committed to the people of Sudan.”

WHO Action

With services shut down, patients who need urgent care must take long and dangerous trips to reach the nearest working health facility. Repeated attacks on health care in the Kordofan region have also destroyed medical buildings and caused a similar human toll, with injuries and deaths of patients, including children.

“WHO has been on the ground since the start of the conflict, providing supplies, disease surveillance, training, and coordination,” said Dr. Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan. “As access to some areas opens up, we are stepping up efforts to support early recovery and rebuilding of the health system alongside the humanitarian response.”

WHO is helping with the supply chain for essential medicines, medical supplies, and equipment. It is also strengthening the health workforce and has helped restore key public health services, including state and national reference laboratories. Since April 2023, WHO has delivered more than 3,300 metric tons of medicines and medical supplies, including supplies for cholera, malaria, nutrition, and trauma care.

WHO-supported services have helped provide essential health care to more than 4.1 million people through primary health care centers, mobile clinics, and hospitals. WHO also supported the treatment of over 118,000 children with complicated severe acute malnutrition. Vaccination campaigns have reached more than 46 million children and adults with vaccines for cholera, polio, diphtheria, measles, and rubella. Malaria vaccines were also introduced. Sudan is the first country in the region to include malaria vaccines in its routine immunization program.

WHO worked closely with the Federal and State Ministries of Health and partners to control two cholera outbreaks. The most recent outbreak was declared over in March 2026, after a response that lasted more than a year. This included oral cholera vaccination campaigns that reached 24.5 million people.

WHO thanks donors and development partners for their financial support. Their generosity has made it possible to provide medical supplies, equipment, operational support, and technical assistance.

WHO repeats its commitment to the health of everyone, everywhere in Sudan. To make this happen, WHO calls for unrestricted and safe access to all areas of Sudan, protection of health care, and continued humanitarian and long-term funding.

Peace is long overdue for Sudan. Without peace, health cannot be achieved.