Malaria in Sudan: Data, Challenges and Impact on Sudan’s Healthcare System

Sudan is experiencing one of the most destabilizing humanitarian and public health crises in recent history. Conflict, mass displacement, and disruption of healthcare systems have created the perfect environment for malaria to thrive. According to UNICEF, the conflict throughout 2024/2025 has severely disrupted malaria prevention and treatment programs, threatening millions of lives, especially children and pregnant women. Malaria is not only widespread, it is deadly. In several regions, it accounts for over 30–50% of all hospital admissions during peak season. Sudan’s health system, already weakened by decades of instability, now faces escalating caseloads with limited medicines, staff shortages, and a shortfall of diagnostic supplies.

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Malaria in Sudan: Current Data & Situation

Sudan is one of the highest-burden malaria countries globally. According to the Severe Malaria Observatory, Sudan experiences intense seasonal P. falciparum transmission, with a high prevalence in Darfur, Kordofan, Sennar, and Blue Nile states.

Key figures for Sudan:

• P. falciparum is responsible for ~95% of infections.
• Transmission peaks during and after the rainy season (June–November).
• Children under 5 account for a disproportionate share of severe cases.
• Conflict-affected regions show the highest malaria mortality due to a lack of access to care.

Malaria cases have surged since the conflict escalated in 2023 to 2024, with aid routes blocked and health facilities destroyed or non-functional.

Sudan’s crisis does not exist in isolation. South Sudan, with a similar climate and mosquito ecology, reported 3.8 million malaria cases in 2024, and projections show cases may reach 8.3 million in 2025, with only 29% expected to reach health.

South Sudan data shows:

• Malaria is becoming less seasonal and more perennial, with Q4 surges each year.
• Under-5 malaria prevalence rose to 52.6%.
• Only 68% of under-5 cases reach health facilities, and the rest remain untreated.
• Complex malaria cases are rising due to rains, displacement, and treatment gaps.
  
  

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Causes of Malaria in Sudan: Why the Disease is Spreading Faster

1. Climate Patterns

High rainfall, floods, and stagnant water after storms create ideal breeding habitats for Anopheles gambiae, the main malaria vector. With climate change increasing rainfall variability, vector breeding increases.

2. Conflict & Displacement

The war has displaced millions into overcrowded camps with:

• No mosquito nets
• Open water sources
• Poor sanitation
• Limited medical access
  
  

3. Weak Healthcare Infrastructure

According to UNICEF Sudan, the ongoing conflict has disrupted supply chains for:

• Medications
• Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs)
• ITNs (insecticide-treated nets)
• Indoor spraying campaigns
  
  

4. Medicine and Diagnostic Shortages

Many clinics cannot confirm cases due to a lack of tests. This leads to incorrect treatment, drug resistance, and rising mortality.

5. Mosquito Resistance

Resistance to insecticides and antimalarial medicines is growing across the region, including Sudan and South Sudan.

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Challenges Facing Sudan’s Healthcare System During the Malaria Crisis:

– Facility Destruction & Closure

Hundreds of health facilities are non-functional due to conflict damage or supply chain collapse.

– Medicine Stockouts

ACTs, artesunate, quinine, and RDTs frequently run out during peak season.

– Inadequate Preventive Tools

Millions of Sudanese families lack:

• Mosquito nets
• Insecticides
• Larvicides
• Spraying campaigns
  

– Rising Drug Resistance

Incorrect treatment and monotherapies increase resistance, a trend also seen in South Sudan

– Lack of Trained Health Workers

Thousands have been displaced or are unable to reach their facilities.

Prevention: What Works and What Sudan Needs Now

– Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs)

Sudan needs millions more nets to protect displaced families sleeping outdoors or in makeshift shelters.

– Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS)

Widespread IRS has stopped in many states due to security concerns.

– Larval Source Management

Removing stagnant water is challenging in camps.

– Mosquito Control Gear Needed

• Sprayers
• Larvicides
• Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets
• Mosquito repellents
• Environmental sanitation kits
  

– Medicine Needs

Sudan urgently requires:

• ACTs
• Artesunate
• Quinine
• RDT diagnostic kits
• SP for pregnant women
• IV fluids & transfusion kits
• Antibiotics for co-infections
  
  

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What Happens If Sudan’s Malaria Crisis is Not Controlled?

1. Mortality Will Increase

Children under 5, pregnant women, and the elderly will face rising death rates.

2. Resistance Will Grow

Improper drug use will accelerate resistance to frontline medicines.

3. Health Facilities Will Collapse

Caseloads will overwhelm weakened clinics.

4. Epidemics Will Become Perennial

Sudan may shift from seasonal malaria to year-round epidemics, as seen in South Sudan

5. Humanitarian Costs Will Skyrocket

Malaria outbreaks worsen malnutrition, anemia, pregnancy complications, and economic instability.

Sudan Needs Urgent Action!

Malaria in Sudan is not just a disease; it is a daily emergency. With conflict disrupting prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, millions are at risk of severe illness and death. Yet, with the right support, malaria deaths are 100% preventable.

Sudan urgently needs:

• Medicines
• Diagnostic kits
• Mosquito nets
• Spraying equipment
• Trained health workers
• Community education
• Support for pregnant women and children
  

SAPA’s work can save thousands of lives if interventions scale now, before the next peak transmission season arrives.

FAQs

1. What is the current malaria situation in Sudan?
Sudan faces a severe malaria crisis, with P. falciparum responsible for ~95% of infections and transmission peaking during and after June – November’s rainy season.

2. How has conflict impacted malaria control in Sudan?
Ongoing conflict has disrupted prevention and treatment programs, blocked aid routes, destroyed health facilities, and increased malaria cases significantly (UNICEF Sudan).

3. Which populations in Sudan are most vulnerable to malaria?
Children under 5 suffer disproportionately, accounting for the majority of severe cases, especially in conflict-affected regions lacking healthcare access.

4. What are the main causes of the malaria surge in Sudan?
Increased rainfall and flooding create mosquito breeding grounds, while conflict-driven displacement leads to overcrowded camps with poor sanitation and limited preventive tools.

5. How is Sudan’s healthcare system coping with the malaria crisis?
Many health facilities are non-functional due to conflict damage, medicines and diagnostic kits face chronic shortages, and staff shortages hamper care delivery.

6. What malaria prevention measures are effective but currently lacking in Sudan?
Millions need insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying (IRS) has been halted in many areas, and comprehensive larval source management remains difficult in camps.

7. What is SAPA’s role in addressing malaria in Sudan?
SAPA supports emergency response and long-term control through supplying medicines, distributing nets, training healthcare workers, and community education.

8. What would happen if Sudan’s malaria crisis is not controlled?
Rising mortality among vulnerable groups, increasing drug resistance, health system collapse, year-round epidemics, and worsening humanitarian and economic impacts would ensue.

9. How does malaria in Sudan compare to South Sudan?
South Sudan faces an even larger number of cases, with projections around 8.3 million in 2025, persistent transmission, and rising severe cases due to displacement and treatment gaps.

10. What urgent resources does Sudan need to fight malaria effectively?
Sudan urgently requires ACTs, diagnostic kits, mosquito nets, indoor spraying equipment, trained health personnel, and education for pregnant women and children to reduce malaria deaths.