UN agencies warns millions hungry, displaced as Sudan health system collapse
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN agencies on Saturday warned that Sudan’s protracted conflict has spiraled into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with hunger, displacement and the collapse of basic services exacting a daily toll on civilians.
UN agencies warned that 3 years of sustained violence, restricted humanitarian access and short of funding have pushed Sudan into what they describe as the largest humanitarian emergency in the world.
Over 33.7 million people are expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2026.
More than 20 million people require health assistance, while 21 million face acute food insecurity.
The conflict erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces plunged the country into a civil war that has spread from the capital Khartoum to Darfur, Kordofan and other regions.
The fighting has devastated infrastructure, fractured state institutions and left civilians exposed to widespread violence, displacement and deprivation.
The ceasefire efforts have failed, and large swathes of the country remain inaccessible to humanitarian actors due to insecurity, bureaucratic constraints and ongoing hostilities.
According to the World Health Organization Sudan’s health system has been pushed close to collapse by ongoing fighting, mass displacement and repeated attacks on medical facilities.
Over one third of health facilities nationwide are non-functional, cutting millions off from essential and lifesaving care.
WHO has verified 201 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 1,858 deaths and 490 injuries.
Such attacks violate international humanitarian law and place patients, caregivers and health workers at grave risk, it said.
Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan said “One thousand days of conflict in Sudan have driven the health system to the brink of collapse.”
“Under the strain of disease, hunger and lack of access to basic services, people face a devastating situation.”
WHO continues to support lifesaving services despite insecurity and access constraints, delivered more than 3,300 metric tonnes of medicines and medical supplies worth of $40 million.
It also supported cholera vaccination campaigns and helped millions access care through hospitals, primary health centres and mobile clinics.
Sudan is the world’s largest displacement crisis, with an 13.6 million people uprooted by the fighting 9.3 million internally displaced and a further 4.3 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation and disrupted services have fuelled outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dengue and measles across much of the country, it noted.
According to UNICEF, children make up about half of those expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2026.
UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edouard Beigbeder said “Children continue to be killed and injured,” noted that 8 children were killed in a single attack in North Kordofan this week alone.
In North Darfur alone, 85,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition were treated between January and November 2025 roughly 1 in every 6 minutes underscored the scale of the crisis.
Both WHO and UNICEF stressed that humanitarian action, while lifesaving, cannot substitute for peace.
Dr. Sahbani said “To meet the mounting needs and prevent the crisis from spiraling out of hand, WHO and humanitarian partners require safe and unimpeded access to all areas of Sudan, and increased financial resources”.
UNICEF warned only an end to the fighting can halt the erosion of safety, health and hope.
“All parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law: protect civilians, stop attacks on infrastructure, and allow safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access,” Mr. Beigbeder added.
