Thousands of Women in Sudan Lose Medical and Psychological Support Amid Suspension of Aid

As the war in Sudan drags on and expands, Sudanese women have paid an enormous price. Many have suffered severe harm, including physical and sexual violence, in the absence of justice and accountability. Women—whether in displacement shelters, isolated and neglected rural villages lacking even the most basic standards of dignified living, or in overcrowded urban areas plagued by poverty, rising prices, and deadly epidemics—continue to face unimaginable challenges.

Despite the ongoing suffering, humanitarian aid and services provided to women and girls are diminishing due to lack of funding. The suspension of U.S.-funded humanitarian programs threatens to deprive 260,000 Sudanese women of reproductive health services and access to safe spaces, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). It also halts frontline medical training and strips 10,000 women of medical, legal, psychological, and social support.

The suspension of U.S. assistance linked to USAID grants has worsened the situation for women across all regions of Sudan.

Worsening Conditions

UNFPA has warned that reproductive and sexual health programs and safe spaces in North Kordofan are supported by multiple donors, but the funding gap puts the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of women and girls at risk.

The agency noted a severe deterioration in Sudan’s situation, particularly with increasing reports of sexual violence being used as a weapon across the country.

The funding crisis will halt frontline medical training and deprive 10,000 women of access to medical, legal, psychological, and social support, in addition to preventing 260,000 women from accessing reproductive health services.

UNFPA requires $119.6 million this year to provide reproductive health and protection services through 90 mobile health teams, 120 health facilities, and 51 safe spaces.

A Fundamental Issue

Women’s rights activist Najla Mahdi emphasized that protecting women has become a core issue around which all women’s rights and advocacy organizations must rally. She stressed the urgency of mobilizing efforts amid a conflict that has disrupted organizations working in this field.

Mahdi stated that the suspension of humanitarian funding denies women and girls access to clinical treatment and psychological counseling after rape and sexual assault, legal referrals, reproductive healthcare, and medical workforce training.

She urged the U.S. government to reconsider its suspension of aid and appealed to the international and regional community to intervene, support famine-stricken communities, and provide relief, medical support, and protection services for displaced women inside and outside Sudan.

A Humanitarian Catastrophe

Nadia Mahjoub, a member of the “Women Against Oppression” campaign, said that depriving thousands of women and girls of reproductive health and essential medical, legal, and psychological services amid war constitutes a humanitarian catastrophe for which the state bears primary responsibility.

She added that armed conflict is the antithesis of women’s needs, as it isolates them from services and deepens inequalities—particularly for refugees and the displaced.

Mahjoub stressed that women require support not only during pregnancy and childbirth but also in response to sexual and gender-based violence and for psychological and legal support.

Barriers and Difficulties

Salima Is’haq, Director of the Unit for Combatting Violence Against Women and Children, stated that Sudanese women have paid a heavy price during the war. Despite escalating violations, women have shown resilience and demonstrated their capacity to lead community peace initiatives and foster reconciliation.

She noted the immense difficulty of reaching survivors on the move, as displacement and insecurity hinder assistance efforts, compounded by communication blackouts and deteriorating healthcare.

Is’haq called on the state to uphold its obligation to protect women from all forms of violence and discrimination and to integrate gender perspectives into national policies.

Funding Shortages

Community activist Sahar Khairi described the health crisis as catastrophic and unprecedented. She noted that Sudanese women face immense risks—whether displaced or trapped in conflict zones—and that the collapse of the health sector and severe shortages of medicines have worsened the situation.

Khairi stressed the need for urgent support amid the funding shortfall, noting that Sudan’s crisis receives insufficient global attention despite worsening humanitarian conditions and the collapse of essential services.

Risks and Challenges

The UN estimates that 12.1 million women, girls, and men in Sudan will face risks of gender-based violence in 2025—an 80 percent increase from the previous year.

Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, the World Health Organization, UNFPA, and partners have warned that continued attacks on health facilities will have catastrophic consequences, especially for maternity hospitals providing reproductive and sexual health services and family planning consultations.

Recent WHO statistics indicate that more than 4 million women in Sudan are of reproductive age, including nearly 500,000 pregnant women—all deprived of essential healthcare and facing grave risks.