Sudan’s Health System on Brink of Collapse After Funding Cuts

Tue Sep 08 2026 17:57:22 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Médecins Sans Frontières warns that a wave of funding cuts and an ongoing war are pushing Sudan’s hospitals to shut down, leaving millions without care.

MSF reports dozens of Sudanese hospitals closing after the US dismantled USAID, the country’s biggest donor. The war between the army and RSF threatens 33 million people with medical neglect while hospitals run out of drugs and staff. In Darfur admissions spiked 22.5% in early 2026, and 45 centres lost funding in May alone. Pregnant women must travel three hours to reach a functioning ward, and attacks on medical staff continue, killing over 1,600 people in 2025. With 5 million facing emergency hunger and 19.5 million food‑insecure, international leaders are urged to act at the UN General Assembly.

Sudan’s fragile health system is on the brink of collapse, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports after global funding cuts shut dozens of clinics.

The US, the largest donor, closed USAID last year. With the war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, over 33 million people need medical help, yet hospitals are closing due to lack of money.

MSF urges world leaders at the UN General Assembly to act. In April 2026 their facilities in central Darfur recorded a 22.5 % rise in admissions compared with the previous year, while 45 care centres lost funding for the first time in May.

Clients now travel up to three hours to reach medical services. In Gedaref’s Tanedba camp the maternity ward closed after a humanitarian group left; pregnant women now go to the nearest city for surgery.

The number of aid agencies in the Um Rakuba camp fell from 35 in 2021 to fewer than 10. Only 17 000 of the 18 400 refugees remain in the camp, the majority women and children.

Attacks on medical facilities continue: in 2025 1 620 people were killed in Sudan, 82 % of global deaths in such attacks. Meanwhile, 19.5 million people face food insecurity and 5 million suffer emergency hunger.

The violence shows no sign of easing, with a drone strike on a town in North Kordofan killing at least 11 people. International diplomats are expected soon in Khartoum to negotiate a cease‑fire, but the health crisis remains critical.