Sudan is still experiencing the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis. To understand the true scope of the problem, we partnered with Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) to create and release a comprehensive needs assessment report that shows how serious the humanitarian needs have become in Khartoum since the conflict started in 2023.
Between August and September 2025, we worked closely with NCA to collect information from over 1,250 families and 70 primary health care centers across five areas of Khartoum. Using input from local organizations, frontline health workers, and affected communities, the report shows how forced displacement and broken systems have led to the spread of disease and rising malnutrition. Basic services like healthcare and sanitation don’t have enough resources and aren’t universally available, but communities and health workers continue to find creative solutions despite huge challenges.
“Our assessments show that 97% of households in the Khartoum region are now facing food shortages, and that daily caloric intake has dropped sharply. The need for humanitarian assistance in Khartoum is urgent. We call on international actors to immediately step up and fund life-saving aid in Sudan,” said Dirk Hanekom, Country Director of Norwegian Church Aid in Sudan.
Across health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), safety, and food security sectors, the assessment clearly demonstrates the need for coordinated action, investment in local capacities, and harmonized recovery planning.
The results of the assessment reaffirm a shared commitment to data-driven humanitarian response and locally led recovery strategies that promote gender equity, integrated service delivery, and dignity for people affected by this crisis.
“Amid unimaginable hardship, Khartoum’s residents and returnees are fighting to survive and rebuild,” said Birhanu Waka, Country Director of Medical Teams International in Sudan. “This new data is a lifeline – guiding us to sharpen our life-saving health response and work toward restoring the health system.”
KEY FINDINGS:
Health Systems
▪️Only 43% of health facilities are functional
▪️Only 14% of women have access to safe deliveries
▪️Health facility staffing has dropped from 11.2 to 7.8 staff members per facility
▪️Severe shortages: 70% of facilities lack antibiotics, 81% lack medications to prevent postpartum hemorrhage, and 85% have no antimalarial medications
Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH)
▪️Nearly half of accessible water is unsafe to drink
▪️Poor sanitation: Nearly half of people don’t have access to toilets
▪️Hygiene gaps: Soap absent in 64–71% homes
▪️Waste collection systems have collapsed from 68% → 9%
Food Security & Livelihoods
▪️97% households are food insecure
▪️In 74% of households, the caloric intake is <1,800 kcal per day
▪️In order to cope with lack of food, 72% of families reported borrowing food and 69% reported skipping meals
Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
▪️Only 7% of health facilities offer GBV services, and only 18% offer rape treatment
▪️Early/forced marriage has surged from 9% → 24%
▪️Vulnerable groups are unprotected: 11–14% of victims are unaccompanied minors, and 6% are disabled
Right now, our teams are on the ground in Sudan working tirelessly to meet this unprecedented need. You can help support our work in Sudan to provide life-saving healthcare for people who have endured more than 2 years of war that has broken their country, lives, and spirits.
Through December 31st, every dollar you give will be matched up to $60,000—doubling your impact to provide care to those who need it most.
Lives are on the line. You can make a difference for people in crisis AND our healthcare staff who show up day after day, in the toughest conditions, to love them and care for them.
Give now and double the impact of your generosity.