The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023 has triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, forcing over 8.8 million people to flee their homes. Over 6.8 million are displaced within Sudan, including 1.63 million women and girls of reproductive age, with over 160,000 pregnant women and an estimated 54,000 expected childbirths in the next three months.

Conflict in Al Fasher - The ongoing fighting that erupted on 15th April 2023 has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 505,000 people to El Fasher town, primarily from Tawila, Kutum, and the eastern and northern areas of El Fasher.

The conflict has also led to a severe hunger crisis, with nearly 5 million people on the brink of famine and 17.7 million facing acute food insecurity. In regions like Darfur, Khartoum, and Kordofan, more than 7,000 new mothers and 220,000 severely malnourished children are at risk of dying without access to maternal health services and nutritional support. Approximately 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are expected to suffer from malnutrition, facing severe health complications. Food insecurity has increased GBV risks as protection mechanisms for women and girls have broken down. 

Key operational challenges include humanitarian access, security, logistical, and communication constraints. UNFPA is collaborating with stakeholders to find solutions and mitigate these challenges, such as cross-border operations from Chad and South Sudan and the movement and storage of supplies within Sudan.

UNFPA is providing SRH and GBV services, where access allows, including distributing reproductive health kits, deploying mobile clinics, supporting safe spaces, coordinating the response, and raising awareness.