Sudan’s Three-Year War Escalates into World’s Largest Humanitarian Crisis, With Health System on the Brink

After three years of unrelenting conflict, Sudan now stands as the epicenter of the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, a devastating reality where 34 million people are in dire need of aid, and a staggering 21 million lack access to essential health services. Repeated, systematic attacks on medical infrastructure, coupled with the pervasive threats of disease and hunger, have crippled an already fragile healthcare system, pushing millions to the precipice of survival. While pockets of improvement may be observed in some states, the health crisis is alarmingly deepening in regions where fighting persists, marked by an escalating surge in disease outbreaks, rampant malnutrition, shrinking access to vital medical care, and a critical shortfall in international funding.

The Scale of a Nation’s Collapse

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, plunged Sudan into an abyss of violence, displacing millions and dismantling the fabric of society. The initial clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital, Khartoum, rapidly metastasized, engulfing vast swathes of the country and transforming a localized power struggle into a nationwide catastrophe. Prior to the war, Sudan’s health system was already under-resourced and strained, particularly in rural areas. Decades of underinvestment, political instability, and recurring localized conflicts had left it ill-equipped to handle a crisis of this magnitude. The current conflict has not merely exacerbated existing vulnerabilities; it has systematically dismantled the infrastructure, human resources, and supply chains that once tenuously held the system together.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), starkly summarized the gravity of the situation, stating, "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. 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." His words underscore the interconnectedness of peace, security, and public health, a tragic truth unfolding daily across Sudan.

A Chronology of Devastation

The timeline of Sudan’s health crisis is a grim narrative of escalating suffering:

• Pre-April 2023: Sudan’s health system is chronically underfunded, with significant disparities in access between urban and rural areas. Immunization rates are low in many regions, and communicable diseases like malaria, cholera, and measles are endemic.
• April 15, 2023: Fighting erupts in Khartoum between the SAF and RSF. Hospitals become immediate targets or are caught in crossfire, leading to their closure or limited functionality. Healthcare workers flee, and medical supplies are looted or destroyed.
• Mid-2023: The conflict spreads beyond Khartoum to regions like Darfur, Kordofan, and Al Jazirah. Displacement accelerates, with millions seeking refuge internally or in neighboring countries. This mass movement, often into overcrowded and unsanitary camps, creates fertile ground for disease outbreaks.
• Late 2023: Humanitarian organizations face immense challenges in delivering aid due to insecurity, bureaucratic impediments, and direct attacks on convoys and personnel. Malnutrition rates begin to skyrocket, particularly among children, as food production and supply chains are disrupted.
• Early 2024: Disease outbreaks, including cholera, measles, and dengue, reach epidemic proportions in several states. Attacks on healthcare facilities continue, further eroding access. The international community struggles to meet the escalating funding requirements.
• February 5, 2026 (IPC Alert): A new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Alert warns that over 4 million people are estimated to be acutely malnourished in 2026, making them profoundly vulnerable to medical complications and infectious diseases.
• March 2026: WHO declares an end to a protracted cholera outbreak, a testament to sustained efforts but also highlighting the ongoing threat of waterborne diseases in the absence of stable infrastructure.
• Present Day: The crisis deepens, with continued fighting in key areas like Greater Darfur and Kordofan, exacerbating humanitarian access issues and the destruction of critical civilian infrastructure, including hospitals.

Epidemics and the Scourge of Malnutrition

The collapse of public health services, coupled with widespread displacement and a lack of clean water and sanitation, has created a perfect storm for disease. Disease outbreaks are rampant across the country, with reports of malaria, dengue, measles, polio (cVDPV2), hepatitis E, meningitis, and diphtheria emerging from multiple states. Regions such as Al Jazirah, Darfur, Gedaref, Khartoum, Kordofan, River Nile, and White Nile states are particularly affected, struggling to contain these preventable illnesses. The re-emergence of polio, specifically circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), is a grave concern, threatening to reverse years of global eradication efforts.

The malnutrition crisis is equally alarming. The February 2026 IPC Alert projects that more than 4 million people will suffer from acute malnutrition, a figure that includes hundreds of thousands of children. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) renders children especially susceptible to infections, often leading to a vicious cycle where illness worsens malnutrition, and malnutrition weakens the body’s ability to fight disease. Without immediate and sustained intervention, a generation of Sudanese children faces irreversible physical and cognitive damage, or worse, death.

Attacks on Healthcare: A Deliberate Strategy

The systematic targeting of healthcare infrastructure, personnel, and patients has become a hallmark of the Sudanese conflict. Across Sudan’s 18 states, a staggering 37% of health facilities are non-functional. Hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and even health workers themselves have been repeatedly subjected to attacks. Since April 15, 2023, the WHO has verified an alarming 217 attacks on healthcare, resulting in a horrific toll of 2,052 deaths and 810 injuries. These attacks are not merely collateral damage; they are often deliberate acts that further restrict access to care, particularly in conflict-affected areas where hospitals are now only partially functioning or have been forced to close due to destruction of facilities and equipment.

A stark example of this brutality is the recent attack on El Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur. This critical referral hospital, which served hundreds of thousands of people across the region, was rendered non-functional, resulting in at least 64 deaths, including children and dedicated health workers. Such incidents not only deprive communities of vital medical services but also instill deep fear among health professionals, forcing many to flee or abandon their posts, leading to a devastating brain drain of medical expertise. The repeated attacks in the Kordofan regions have similarly destroyed health facilities and exacted a tragic human toll, with injuries and deaths among patients, including children.

Humanitarian Access and Operational Challenges

Delivering humanitarian aid in Sudan is an immense challenge. In the Greater Darfur and Kordofan regions, intense fighting has not only displaced populations but also severely restricted the movement of humanitarian supplies. Roadblocks, insecurity, bureaucratic hurdles, and direct targeting of aid convoys have created an environment where reaching those most in need is a constant battle. This limited access means that essential medicines, nutritional supplements, and medical equipment often cannot reach the areas where they are most desperately required, further deepening the crisis. International aid agencies and their local partners operate under extreme duress, with their staff facing risks of abduction, injury, and death.

Official Responses and WHO Action

In the face of this overwhelming crisis, the international community, led by organizations like the WHO, has been striving to provide life-saving assistance. Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, reiterated the commitment, stating, "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. 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."

The WHO has been on the ground since the conflict’s onset, playing a crucial role in coordinating the health response. Dr. Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan, affirmed their dedication: "WHO has been on the ground since the start of the conflict, with supplies, disease surveillance, training and coordination. 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 multi-faceted approach includes:

• Supply Chain Support: Facilitating the procurement and delivery of essential medicines, medical supplies, and equipment, including specific provisions for cholera, malaria, nutrition, and trauma care. Since April 2023, over 3,300 metric tons of these vital supplies have been delivered.
• Health Workforce Strengthening: Providing training and support to healthcare workers, many of whom are operating in extremely challenging circumstances with limited resources.
• Restoration of Public Health Services: Aiding in the rehabilitation of key public health services, including state and national reference laboratories, which are critical for disease surveillance and diagnostics.
• Direct Healthcare Provision: Supporting primary healthcare centers, mobile clinics, and hospitals, which have collectively provided essential health care to more than 4.1 million people.
• Malnutrition Treatment: Supporting the treatment of over 118,000 children suffering from complicated severe acute malnutrition.
• Vaccination Campaigns: Spearheading massive vaccination efforts, reaching more than 46 million children and adults with cholera, polio, diphtheria, measles, and rubella vaccines. Notably, Sudan became the first country in the region to integrate malaria vaccines into its routine immunization program, a critical step given the endemic nature of the disease.
• Cholera Response: Working closely with the Federal and State Ministries of Health and partners to contain two major cholera outbreaks, with the most recent one declared over in March 2026 after a sustained response that included oral cholera vaccination campaigns reaching 24.5 million people.

Broader Impact and Implications

The implications of Sudan’s health crisis extend far beyond its borders. The mass displacement of people, with over 8 million internally displaced and more than 1.8 million having fled to neighboring countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt, places immense strain on the already stretched resources of host communities and risks regional destabilization. The spread of communicable diseases from Sudan poses a significant public health threat to the entire Horn of Africa and wider region.

The destruction of the healthcare system will have long-term, generational consequences. The loss of trained medical professionals, the physical destruction of infrastructure, and the interruption of essential public health programs mean that even if peace were to break out today, rebuilding would take decades and require monumental investment. Children who survive the conflict with malnutrition or preventable diseases may suffer lifelong health impairments, impacting their ability to contribute to society and perpetuating a cycle of poverty and vulnerability. The psychological trauma inflicted on millions, particularly children, due to constant violence and displacement, will require extensive mental health support for years to come.

Calls for Sustained Action and Peace

The WHO acknowledges the vital financial support from donors and development partners, whose generosity has been crucial for providing medical supplies, equipment, operational support, and technical assistance. However, the current humanitarian response plan for Sudan remains severely underfunded, leaving critical gaps in life-saving services.

The WHO reiterates its unwavering commitment to the health of every individual in Sudan. To achieve this, the organization issues an urgent call for several critical actions: unrestricted and safe access to all areas of Sudan for humanitarian aid; the unequivocal protection of healthcare facilities, workers, and patients; and sustained humanitarian and long-term funding to address the immediate and enduring needs.

Ultimately, the best medicine for Sudan is not found in a pill or a vaccine, but in the cessation of hostilities. Peace is long overdue for Sudan. Without peace, the fundamental right to health, and indeed life itself, cannot be attained for millions. The international community must redouble its efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive political solution, as the human cost of continued conflict is simply too high.

Editor’s note: Editorial changes were made to this news release on 15 April 2026. The substance of the release, including numbers, has not changed.