Aid organizations operating in Sudan announced that approximately three dozen health facilities are shutting down this year as a result of reduced international funding, impacting access to healthcare for more than 400,000 people. The closures represent an additional blow to a healthcare system that has already experienced severe deterioration since armed conflict began in April 2023.
The Sudanese healthcare infrastructure has contracted dramatically since the onset of war. The country previously maintained approximately 6,500 primary healthcare facilities and 300 public hospitals. However, assessments conducted by September 2024 indicated that 70-80% of facilities in the most heavily affected regions had either completely shut down or were operating at minimal capacity. The International Rescue Committee reported that funding constraints were forcing the closure of 36 of its supported facilities and sites, affecting an estimated 473,700 people.
The funding shortfalls stem from reductions announced last year and grants to many organizations that expired in June. Multiple aid organizations have announced pullbacks from Sudan as available resources dwindle. Healthcare workers are being laid off, medicine supplies are depleted, and patients now face substantial transportation costs and safety risks to access treatment. Officials with major humanitarian organizations warned that these funding reductions are eliminating remaining healthcare capacity at a critical time.
The humanitarian situation has been further complicated by disease outbreaks occurring across Sudan. Health officials documented measles reaching outbreak levels in Darfur, with approximately 75% of affected patients lacking vaccination protection. The country is simultaneously experiencing cholera and malaria outbreaks. The Um Rakuba camp in eastern Sudan, sheltering around 17,000 displaced people, has seen aid organization presence decrease from approximately 35 groups in 2021 to fewer than 10 currently operating.
The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people, with certain regions experiencing famine conditions. International efforts to resolve the conflict through negotiations have continued, with recent diplomatic actions focused on pressuring warring parties toward settlement discussions.
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