Major Humanitarian Needs in Khartoum

“Our assessments show that 97% of households in the Khartoum region are now facing food shortages, and that daily caloric intake has dropped sharply. The need for humanitarian assistance in Khartoum is urgent,” said Dirk Hanekom, Country Director of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in Sudan.

Between August and September 2025, NCA and Medical Teams International gathered data from over 1,250 households and 70 primary health care facilities across five localities. Drawing on insights from local institutions, frontline health workers, and affected communities, the report highlights the impact of displacement and systemic breakdowns connected to the spread of disease and increasing malnutrition. 

Essential services remain under-resourced and unevenly distributed, while communities and health workers continue to innovate under immense constraints.

“We call on international actors to immediately step up and fund life-saving aid in Sudan,” said Hanekom. 

NCA has worked in Sudan for over 50 years. We work in seven states, providing humanitarian assistance and long-term development.

Medical Teams International provides life-saving medical care for people in crisis, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, and survivors of conflict zones and natural disasters.

Coordinated action across key sectors

Across health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), protection, and food security sectors, the assessment underscores the need for coordinated action, investment in local capacities, and harmonized recovery planning. The results reaffirm a shared commitment to data-driven humanitarian response and locally led recovery strategies that promote gender equity, integrated service delivery, and dignity for affected populations.

Key Findings

Health Systems 

• Only 43% of health facilities functional; safe deliveries in 14%. 
• Staffing dropped from 11.2 to 7.8 per facility; 62% unpaid, 38% migrated. 
• Severe shortages: 70% lack antibiotics, 81% no uterotonics, 85% no antimalarials; cold-chain in 15%. 
• Malnutrition increasing: GAM 19.3% (↑ from 7.4%), SAM 4.6% (↑ from 1.9%) 

Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH) 

• 80% access “improved” water, but nearly half unsafe; East Nile relies on shallow wells (88%). 
• Sanitation poor: only 18% improved, open defecation up to 46%. 
• Hygiene gaps: soap absent in 64–71% homes, handwashing with soap only 27%. 
• Waste collection collapsed (68% → 9%); gender-based violence risks at water points (41% unsafe after dusk). 

Food Security & Livelihoods 

• 97% households food insecure; caloric intake <1,800 kcal in 74%. 
• Income ~$20/month, inflation >500%; coping includes borrowing food (72%) and skipping meals (69%). 

Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) 

• Formal protection nearly absent; only 7% facilities offer GBV services, rape treatment 18%. 
• Early/forced marriage surged (9% → 24%); survival sex reported by 17%. 
• Vulnerable groups unprotected: 11–14% unaccompanied minors, 6% disabled.