Sudan’s health system near collapse amid funding cuts, MSF warns
Sudan’s healthcare system is facing a deepening crisis as funding shortages force medical facilities to shut down across the country, leaving millions of people with limited access to treatment amid an ongoing civil war, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The medical charity says the withdrawal of international aid, particularly following the closure of USAID and reductions in support from several European governments, has weakened humanitarian operations at a time when demand for healthcare continues to rise.
With more than 33 million people estimated to require medical assistance, MSF warned that the shrinking aid response is placing enormous pressure on the few facilities that remain operational.
“War is driving Sudan’s needs; funding cuts are shrinking the response,” said Muhammad Ibrahim, the head of charity in Sudan.
The impact is already being felt in several parts of the country. In Darfur, where fighting has been particularly intense, admissions at MSF-supported facilities rose sharply during the first four months of 2026, while dozens of healthcare centres reportedly lost funding in May alone.
As clinics close, patients are being forced to travel longer distances to seek treatment, often arriving in critical condition after difficult journeys.
“After a longer and more expensive journey, patients often arrive in a much more serious condition, and the hospital may already be full,” said Sebastián Traficante, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Darfur.
MSF cited camps hosting displaced people in Gedaref State as examples of the growing strain on healthcare services. Some facilities have lost key services, including maternity and surgical care, leaving vulnerable patients with few treatment options.
The charity also expressed concern about continued attacks on healthcare facilities and workers. According to MSF, Sudan recorded 1,620 deaths linked to attacks on medical facilities in 2025, representing the majority of such deaths reported globally during the year.
“If support does not increase, more patients will face longer journeys, fewer treatment options and greater risk of arriving too late for care,” said MSF’s UK humanitarian representative, Liz Harding.
The warning comes as Sudan continues to grapple with one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies, with millions facing severe food insecurity and fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces showing little sign of ending.
Source: BBC
About The Author
