Two years since the conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, women and girls continue to bear the brunt of the crisis. Of the 15 million forcibly displaced people, a significant number are women and girls of reproductive age, many of whom have little to no access to essential sexual and reproductive health services or maternal care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) verified at least 156 attacks on healthcare facilities between April 2023 and April 2025, though the actual number is likely much higher. WHO estimates that 70-80% of health facilities in areas worst affected by conflict and about 45% in other parts of the country are now barely operational or closed, impacting millions of people.
To further complicate the healthcare challenges, many displaced women and girls face gender-based violence (GBV), including child marriage, rape and sexual violence.
What challenges do Sudanese women and girls face?
Many internally displaced women and girls living in shelters have a critical shortage of reproductive health services since they lack the most basic healthcare resources to address their urgent needs.
Without proper medical care, women have experienced a rise in miscarriages, while inadequate pregnancy and childbirth care has led to several maternal deaths. Poor newborn care further exacerbates the situation, increasing the rates of maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
Urgent healthcare crisis for women and girls
Women and girls make up most of the displaced people inside and outside the country. According to the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, women needing medical and reproductive health services represent 35% of those affected, while children represent nearly 55% and face increased risks from disease outbreaks and lack of paediatric care. Over 12 million women and girls, and increasingly men and boys, are at risk of GBV across Sudan; this is 80% higher than the previous year. Cases of GBV survivors seeking services rose by 288% between December 2023 and December 2024.
The commitment of IRC’s medical teams to support women and girls
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) health team is working tirelessly to ensure women and girls – who are disproportionately affected by the crisis – receive the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care they need. Many health facilities have been damaged or left understaffed, making access to prenatal care, safe deliveries, and essential medications nearly impossible for thousands. Yet, with funding from the European Union, the IRC continues to supply and maintain clinics in camps for internally displaced people and refugees, including here at the Gedaref camps in Eastern Sudan, serving as a critical lifeline for displaced women and girls.
Zakia Yaqoup, a 43-year-old senior midwife, is one of the dedicated IRC health workers serving in Gedaref camp east of Sudan, through IRC’s EU-funded programme launched in 2021.
Knowing the pain of displacement first-hand – she fled with her sons when conflict broke out in 2023 – Zakia dedicated herself to caring for women, providing maternity services, family planning and much-needed support in an increasingly harsh environment.
Every day, she witnesses along with her team the struggles women face since the conflict began. She shares that girls are at constant risk of violence, harassment, abuse, and kidnapping. Some have even been subjected to rape and forced into sex slavery, making safe spaces and support services more critical than ever.
To support women, she works in family planning methods and counselling, as well as antenatal care, post-pregnancy follow-ups, and assisting with deliveries and postnatal care. Additionally, Zakia conducts sessions during pregnancy, providing guidance on health education, personal hygiene and overall well-being.
However, the ability of Zakia and her team to work is challenged every day. Even with a steady supply of SRH materials through EU support, long import delays and access constraints within Sudan threaten to disrupt services. Stockouts have been reported in several states due to accessibility issues and a lack of government funding for health services during the conflict. But despite these barriers, the IRC remains unwavering in its mission – adapting, improvising and pushing forward to ensure no woman or girl is left without care. So far, more than 277,000 people across Sudan have received IRC-supported health services through the EU-funded project, including nearly 17,000 women and girls who have accessed lifesaving sexual and reproductive health care.
The EU-supported health facilities also uphold strong infection prevention and control measures, providing safe spaces equipped with handwashing stations, restrooms, waste management systems, incinerators and ash pits. Against all odds, the IRC and its dedicated teams continue to stand by Sudan’s women and girls, delivering the care they need when they need it most.
