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A year into war, much remains to be done in Sudan

April 15^th, 2024

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The conflict, which began on 15 April 2023, has shattered Sudan’s fragile peace and plunged the nation into a devastating humanitarian crisis.

The consequences have been far-reaching, displacing millions, crippling essential services, and jeopardizing the health and well-being of countless Sudanese.

Over 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge within the country's borders or in neighbouring nations such as Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan.

These displaced communities are particularly vulnerable, lacking basic necessities like clean water, food, and shelter.

A year into war, much remains to be done in Sudan

The healthcare system, already strained, has been pushed to the brink. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 15 million people don’t have health care and between 70 – 80 percent of health facilities are not functioning.

Fear of violence has driven many healthcare workers to flee, while attacks on medical facilities have become alarmingly frequent.

WHO also reports the occupation of critical health infrastructure like the National Public Health Laboratory.

Disruptions to medical supplies have compounded the crisis. Transporting essential medicines and equipment has become hazardous, leaving many areas with critical shortages. The conflict has created a breeding ground for disease. Displacement and lack of healthcare are disrupting treatment regimens for HIV and tuberculosis (TB), increasing the risk of drug resistance and transmission.

This has had a significant impact on life-saving treatments, such as those living with HIV/AIDS, like Ibrahim (name changed) who has gone from having full, life-sustaining treatment to not knowing what the future holds.

“The situation has worsened to a state of misery. Without HIV treatment, many have succumbed to the reality of a slow death. We must care for people living with HIV, save whomever possible and limit the spread of disease because of this war.” – Ibrahim, Sudanese People Living with HIV/AIDS Care Association in White Nile

In the face of this immense crisis, UNDP is working tirelessly to deliver life-saving support.

“Seventy percent of the Sudanese who were internally displaced went to other cities in Sudan, where they found safety. And this is where we try to see what kind of interventions that can be good in the short- and mid-term - livelihoods and basic services that will maintain social cohesion.” - Thair Shraideh Acting Resident Respresentative, UNDP Sudan

UNDP is collaborating with the Global Fund and other partners to ensure healthcare workers can continue providing critical medical services.

This includes supporting staffing, communication, and operational costs for state health facilities and community-based programmes focused on HIV and TB. Over 24,000 people have received HIV and TB treatment in 2023.

In partnership with the National Medical Supplies Fund and the World Food Programme, UNDP is delivering essential medicines. These crucial supplies will ensure continuity of treatment for people living with HIV and keep the national TB program functional. In the past year 80 tonnes of essential medicines, diagnostics, and supplies have been delivered.

To treat vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach areas, including those internally displaced, UNDP is deploying nine mobile primary healthcare centres, working alongside the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO, and humanitarian NGOs.

UNDP is supporting the rehabilitation of health infrastructure by providing vital supplies and equipment, including for laboratory diagnostics, solar energy installations, and oxygen supply systems. This ensures they continue to function and strengthens the capacity to prevent wider disease outbreaks.

UNDP's support to the country's medical infrastructure has been crucial to ensuring that Sudanese continue to receive healthcare and treatment. Photo: UNDP Sudan

The fight for a healthier, more secure future for Sudan continues. As part of the Sudan Emergency Community Stabilization Offer, UNDP's efforts extend beyond healthcare. We are also supporting emergency employment opportunities, agricultural production initiatives, and access to clean energy and solar-powered water.

The influx of internally displaced persons has put strains on water infrastructure, leading to waterborne diseases, increased tensions over limited resources, and a constant struggle for basic needs. UNDP’s solar water pumps have become a lifeline to thousands of people.

These clever systems tap into the sun's power to pump water from underground, bypassing contaminated surface water and offering a reliable, independent supply of clean drinking water. Since April, UNDP has installed over 120 solar pumps, providing over 150,000 displaced people with water in several states.

UNDP's solarized water pumps have emerged as a game-changer. A clean, uninterrupted water supply has improved hygiene and reduced diseases. But that is just the beginning.

By bringing water closer to homes, solar pumps free up time for women and girls who typically bear the burden of water collection, promoting safety and empowering them to pursue education and work. It has reduced gender-based violence, built community resilience and fostered social cohesion.

Installing and maintaining solar pumps has provided much needed jobs, which injects economic activity into local communities and empowers them to become more self-reliant. Clean water also enables displaced families to farm and open small businesses.

More than 18 million Sudanese face food insecurity. As well as providing fresh water UNDP has provided farmers with tools and seeds in conflict-affected areas. More than 130 metric tonnes of seeds have been distributed.

While thousands have been reached through our work, the needs are still significant. Sudan faces a catastrophe with over 25 million people in need.

The cost of inaction is growing exponentially. As each day of the conflict progresses, the impact on the people of Sudan deepens.

Millions have been pushed from their homes, jobs have been lost, and the healthcare system is rapidly deteriorating. Increased funding is urgently needed as greater investment in development in the acute phase of a crisis can help prevent a deeper humanitarian catastrophe, while also laying the foundation for recovery.