Sudan remains amid one of the gravest and most complex public health emergencies in recent history. More than two years, over 31 months, of conflict have devastated infrastructure, displaced millions, and eroded essential health services. To shed light on the evolving crisis and recent escalation of violence, and outline practical pathways for relief and recovery, EMPHNET hosted the 49^th session of its WEBi Series, titled “Public Health Emergency and Humanitarian Needs in Sudan: From Survival to Recovery,” on November 25, 2025.

The webinar convened experts from Sudan, global humanitarian institutions, academia, and the diaspora to examine urgent health and humanitarian needs, assess the functionality of the health system under conflict, and discuss priorities for short- and long-term recovery.

Opening Remarks

Moderated by Dr. Haitham Bashier, Director of EMPHNET’s Public Health Emergency Management Center (PHEMC), the session opened with reflections on the scale of Sudan’s crisis. Dr. Bashier stressed the importance of centering Sudanese voices in defining priorities for relief and system restoration.

Sudan’s Health Situation

Dr. Muntasir Mohammed Osman, Director General of Health Emergencies and Epidemics Control at the Sudan Federal Ministry of Health and Director of the Sudan Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), delivered a detailed overview of the crisis and its impact on Sudan’s health system.

He explained that since 15 April 2023, key infrastructure has been destroyed or looted. The impact has been severe, with 122 facilities damaged, 70% of health workers displaced, and more than 12 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) requiring urgent care.

He also outlined a 10-year strategic vision (2025–2035), structured into phases of response, reconstruction, and long-term development. His presentation outlined both the severity of the crisis and a clear framework for strengthening and rebuilding Sudan’s health system.

Panel Discussion: Humanitarian Needs, Governance Barriers, and Recovery Pathways

Moderated by Dr. Bashier, the panel featured:

• Anmar Homeida, Executive Director of the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA)
• Maisoon Elbukhari, Senior Health Expert, University of Geneva
• Naeema Al-Qasseer, Global Health and Sustainable Development Expert and a Former WHO/UN Official and Diplomat
• Salim Mohamed Nour, a Public Health Physician Specialist and independent expert in epidemic response and health systems strengthening

Humanitarian Perspective from the Field

Representing one of the most active organizations operating on the ground in Sudan, SAPA, Dr. Homeida highlighted the severe burden faced by communities: acute malnutrition, hunger, outbreaks, trauma, maternal health challenges, NCDs, and overcrowded IDP settings. He stressed that local communities are driving much of the response, as national systems have collapsed in many areas. Despite resource constraints, SAPA and local partners continue to sustain primary healthcare services and coordinate closely with humanitarian agencies and the Ministry of Health.

Governance, Community Leadership, and Recovery Priorities

Dr. Al-Qasseer emphasized that recovery depends on trust, peace, and strong community leadership. Drawing on lessons from Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, and South Sudan, she highlighted the role of community health networks, women-led initiatives, performance-based approaches, and district-level engagement.

She identified fragmented authority, communication gaps, and limited local capacity as major governance barriers and called for more inclusive coordination, youth engagement, and a shift from donor-driven financing to nationally led recovery. Communities, she noted, remain “the eyes on the ground” and are essential to rebuilding trust and sustaining services. She concluded by underscoring that peace is fundamental to enabling meaningful recovery and sustained development.

Strengthening Health System Resilience

Dr. Elbukhari reflected on the compounded effects of war on an already fragile health system, noting Sudan’s low Universal Health Coverage (UHC) index of 44 (2017) before the conflict. She outlined both the direct impacts (attacks on healthcare, injuries) and indirect impacts (malnutrition, water system collapse, outbreaks, disrupted chronic care, mental health conditions, and environmental contamination). Her reflections drew on insights from her recently published paper, “Measuring What Matters: Key Indicators for Performance and Resilience in Fragile, Low-Income Contexts”, which examines how resilience can be measured and strengthened in settings exposed to recurrent shocks.

During the session, she outlined four capacities required for a resilient health system:

• A trusted center of command
• Preparedness for predictable shocks
• Strong coordination across health actors
• Governance and legitimacy, reinforced by public trust

Governance and Cross-Border Access

Dr. Nour stressed the importance of applying the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDPx) Nexus to translate recommendations into coordinated action. With millions displaced, inside and outside Sudan, he highlighted the need to:

• Expand community-based delivery models in IDP and border areas
• Implement urgent environmental health measures
• Strengthen cross-border referral pathways
• Reinforce mechanisms such as the Federal Migrants Health Desk
• Invest in health system recovery, surveillance, and workforce capacity

He also emphasized peace-building through health, calling for flexible financing, regional cooperation, and formalized cross-border agreements to protect equitable access for Sudanese refugees.

Final Reflections and Closing Discussion

The discussion concluded with several key takeaways on how Sudan can respond to urgent needs while planning for long-term recovery, including:

• Decentralization is a critical strategy to maintain essential services across both stable and conflict-affected states.
• Community leadership is central to reaching hard-to-access populations and ensuring that response efforts reflect local priorities.
• The need for a coordinated national plan, strengthened accountability, and sustainable financing to support system resilience.
• The importance of equity and inclusive, people-centered approaches to rebuilding trust and restore essential services.
• Peace and trust as foundations for healthy recovery and sustained development.
  
  

In his closing remarks, Dr. Mohannad Al Nsour, EMPHNET’s Executive Director, reaffirmed EMPHNET’s commitment to Sudan through operational engagement, technical assistance, capacity building, and advocacy. He also underscored the need for stronger international responsibility and coordinated action to match the scale of Sudan’s crisis.

The webinar drew more than 250 participants and generated a highly engaged discussion. The depth and relevance of questions reflected a community deeply invested in finding actionable solutions for Sudan’s ongoing health emergency.

Watch the webinar here.

Read about our WEBi Series here.