Since fighting started between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a reported 705 people have been killed and 5,287 injured. Of the 24.7 million people in need, 11 million require life-saving humanitarian health services.
With 45 verified attacks on health reported as of 28 May, and around 70% of health facilities in the capital Khartoum reported as non-functional, the fighting has disrupted the entire health system. Medicines and supplies have been looted, and healthcare workers have been forced to flee; this has affected health services across the country and led to the discontinuation of several critical programmes and a disruption in the supply chain. Furthermore, damage to infrastructure and a lack of fuel, water and cash has made health service delivery extremely challenging and restricted the population's access to facilities that can provide life-saving services. As the humanitarian situation continues to unfold, there is an urgent need to get aid and medical supplies to people across the country as existing stocks become depleted.
The current crisis and soaring needs have led to the revision of the 2023 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan, intending to give urgent assistance to those affected by the fighting.
In response, the health cluster has expanded its existing area of operations, adding new localities of Khartoum and hotspots in Kordofan. This increased the number of people targeted with humanitarian health services by over 2 million. Health cluster partners and organizations continue to attempt to deliver health services across the country, and some have managed to provide medical supplies in various locations. However, challenges and risks remain until the safe movement of supplies and personnel is guaranteed.
Initial action undertaken by the health cluster has included mapping around 400 health facilities across the country that are still being supported by partners, of which 10% are currently non-functional. Despite significant challenges, partners, especially local actors, healthcare workers and volunteers, have mobilized to try and ensure services. Informal channels such as social media are used to understand service availability, safe access to health care, and where to find medicines. The health cluster is working to strengthen coordination with such groups.
A trauma working group has been established under the health cluster led by WHO Emergency Medical Team to help coordinate and strengthen the provision of urgent humanitarian health assistance. The health cluster is also linking work with the GBV AoR to ensure survivors have timely access to GBV health or protection services and jointly determine referral pathways.
As the crisis in Sudan remains volatile and dynamic, with the ability to provide services changing daily, the health cluster needs $178.6 million to reach 7.8 million, reflecting the number of people out of the 11 million in need of life-saving humanitarian health services that partners can realistically target given the present situation.