The United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that 8.1 million women and girls of reproductive age in Sudan will require urgent reproductive health services, with an estimated 1.1 million births expected this year.
In a report, WHO said that “8.1 million women and girls of reproductive age — including more than 803,000 pregnant women — require urgent reproductive health services, with about 1.1 million births expected in 2026.”
The organization said it requires $97.7 million this year to support 20.4 million people, including 4.9 million internally displaced persons. It noted that 80% of those targeted are living in areas affected by multiple vulnerability factors, making them a priority for response efforts.
WHO said it aims to provide direct health services to 6.6 million people out of the 20.1 million individuals it plans to assist, including reproductive health, maternal and child health services, mental health services, and psychosocial support.
The organization warned that food insecurity is an additional factor worsening the health crisis, with 19.1 million people expected to face high levels of food insecurity during the first half of 2026.
It also warned of the continued spread of epidemic diseases, including cholera, measles, malaria and dengue fever, amid declining routine vaccination coverage, with more than 30% of children remaining unvaccinated, placing further pressure on an already fragile health system.
WHO said about 37% of health facilities in the country are now out of service, while 63% are only partially operational, depriving large segments of the population — particularly pregnant women — of access to essential healthcare.
The organization added that it has reprioritized efforts to reach the most severely affected groups this year, despite major funding cuts in the previous year that reduced its response capacity by more than 65%.
