The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate sharply, with intense fighting, aerial attacks and mass displacement driving severe protection and health risks for women and girls. In North Darfur, violence in and around El Fasher has displaced more than 106,000 people in recent weeks, while access to basic services has collapsed across multiple conflict-affected areas. Nationwide, over 30 million people are in need, including more than 7.2 million women of reproductive age and over 700,000 pregnant women, with sexual violence increasingly used as a tactic of war and more than 80 per cent of health facilities in conflict zones non-functional.
In response, UNFPA is sustaining life-saving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services across the most affected states, prioritizing areas receiving newly displaced populations. This includes round-the-clock emergency obstetric and newborn care in Tawila, the deployment of midwives and mobile clinics, confidential GBV corners and women- and girl-safe spaces, clinical management of rape, psychosocial support, and cash assistance to enable safe deliveries and urgent referrals. In November alone, tens of thousands of women and girls accessed SRH and GBV services through UNFPA-supported facilities, outreach teams and community protection networks, despite severe access and security constraints.
These efforts are being delivered amid a critical funding shortfall. In 2025, UNFPA is appealing for US$145.7 million to meet urgent SRH and GBV needs in Sudan, yet only around 38 per cent of this requirement has been funded, leaving a gap of more than US$90 million. Without urgent, flexible and sustained donor support, essential services for women and girls risk further disruption at a time when needs continue to rise.
