On Saturday 15 April 2023, a brutal civil war broke out across Sudan with a wave of gunfire, shelling and airstrikes.
The violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has trapped millions of people in the middle of an unexpected conflict. Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes while access to essential services such as healthcare has become increasingly difficult.
Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams already working in Sudan have been responding to the crisis since its first moments.
Our healthcare projects and hospitals – in some places the only medical facilities still open – have treated influxes of critical patients: the war-wounded, pregnant women in labour, and chronically ill people with nowhere else to go. At the same time, MSF teams in neighbouring Chad have received huge numbers of injured refugees who have travelled for miles to reach urgent care.
As Sudan’s war enters its third year, the humanitarian crisis is spiralling. Sixty percent of the population, around 30 million people, need humanitarian aid. Yet the response remains insufficient: underfunded, deprioritised, and stalled by a lack of political will.Â
MSF urges that Sudan must not become a forgotten crisis.Â
Right now, our teams in Sudan are treating patients injured or affected by the conflict. This is only possible because of donations from people like you.
By giving to our general funds today, you will be helping ensure we can respond to emergencies around the world, including in Sudan.
Please donate today to support our emergency teams.
Click here to learn more about how we spend your money
Read: Why is no one talking about the biggest humanitarian crisis on Earth?
MSF works across Sudan with a team of more than 1,400 Sudanese and international staff. Right now, our expert teams:
CHILDREN ADMITTED TO INPATIENT FEEDING PROGRAMMES BY MSFÂ IN SUDAN IN 2024
Following a military coup in 2021, most international aid to Sudan was frozen. This led to an economic crisis and increased food insecurity.
Sudan’s healthcare system was also extremely fragile even before the recent escalation in violence and access to basic medical services has been a challenge for most people.
This critical situation has been caused by a combination of recurring violence and conflict, the economic situation and the cost of healthcare, and an overall lack of medical staff and resources.
Added to this, the sharp decline in international aid has had consequences including reduced vaccination coverage and increased malnutrition among children.
Before the conflict, around 78,000 children under five were dying each year due to preventable causes such as malaria. In the first four months after 15 April, around 50,000 children with accurate malnutrition had their treatment disrupted.
Sudan also already had a high maternal mortality rate, with around 25 percent of births unattended by a skilled healthcare professional.
The stark reality is that Sudan’s healthcare system has been on the verge of collapse for decades. However, with the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and security situation, low-running supplies and under-pressure staff, it is now at breaking point.
MSF has been working in Sudan since 1979. We have been providing medical aid throughout the civil war that led to the split with South Sudan in 2011, and the decade-long conflict in the Darfur region.
Before the recent escalation in violence on 15 April 2023, we were running 11 medical projects across 12 states. This included 24 healthcare facilities, from mobile clinics to hospitals.
In 2022, MSF teams in Sudan held 449,654 outpatient consultations, admitted 21,664 people to hospital, treated 5,621 children for malnutrition and assisted in 2,791 deliveries.
The violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has trapped millions of people in the middle of an unexpected conflict. Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes while access to essential services such as healthcare has become increasingly difficult.
Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams already working in Sudan have been responding to the crisis since its first moments.
Our healthcare projects and hospitals – in some places the only medical facilities still open – have treated influxes of critical patients: the war-wounded, pregnant women in labour, and chronically ill people with nowhere else to go. At the same time, MSF teams in neighbouring Chad have received huge numbers of injured refugees who have travelled for miles to reach urgent care.
As Sudan’s war enters its third year, the humanitarian crisis is spiralling. Sixty percent of the population, around 30 million people, need humanitarian aid. Yet the response remains insufficient: underfunded, deprioritised, and stalled by a lack of political will.Â
MSF urges that Sudan must not become a forgotten crisis.Â
Right now, our teams in Sudan are treating patients injured or affected by the conflict. This is only possible because of donations from people like you.
By giving to our general funds today, you will be helping ensure we can respond to emergencies around the world, including in Sudan.
Please donate today to support our emergency teams.
Click here to learn more about how we spend your money
Read: Why is no one talking about the biggest humanitarian crisis on Earth?
MSF works across Sudan with a team of more than 1,400 Sudanese and international staff. Right now, our expert teams:
CHILDREN ADMITTED TO INPATIENT FEEDING PROGRAMMES BY MSFÂ IN SUDAN IN 2024
Following a military coup in 2021, most international aid to Sudan was frozen. This led to an economic crisis and increased food insecurity.
Sudan’s healthcare system was also extremely fragile even before the recent escalation in violence and access to basic medical services has been a challenge for most people.
This critical situation has been caused by a combination of recurring violence and conflict, the economic situation and the cost of healthcare, and an overall lack of medical staff and resources.
Added to this, the sharp decline in international aid has had consequences including reduced vaccination coverage and increased malnutrition among children.
Before the conflict, around 78,000 children under five were dying each year due to preventable causes such as malaria. In the first four months after 15 April, around 50,000 children with accurate malnutrition had their treatment disrupted.
Sudan also already had a high maternal mortality rate, with around 25 percent of births unattended by a skilled healthcare professional.
The stark reality is that Sudan’s healthcare system has been on the verge of collapse for decades. However, with the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and security situation, low-running supplies and under-pressure staff, it is now at breaking point.
MSF has been working in Sudan since 1979. We have been providing medical aid throughout the civil war that led to the split with South Sudan in 2011, and the decade-long conflict in the Darfur region.
Before the recent escalation in violence on 15 April 2023, we were running 11 medical projects across 12 states. This included 24 healthcare facilities, from mobile clinics to hospitals.
In 2022, MSF teams in Sudan held 449,654 outpatient consultations, admitted 21,664 people to hospital, treated 5,621 children for malnutrition and assisted in 2,791 deliveries.