Famine conditions in Sudan are worsening, particularly in the most vulnerable areas, as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that acute malnutrition has surpassed famine thresholds in parts of North Darfur, where thousands of people fled to towns like Um Baru and Kernoi to escape violence in El Fasher. An estimated 4.2 million cases of acute malnutrition are expected across Sudan in 2026, marking a 14% increase from 2025, with famine linked closely to outbreaks of disease.
Ongoing conflict has also severely impacted healthcare infrastructure. Over the past three years, WHO has verified 205 attacks on health facilities, resulting in nearly 2,000 deaths and over 500 injuries. Sudan is simultaneously grappling with outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dengue, and measles, with millions affected and thousands of deaths reported. Humanitarian access is hindered by ongoing fighting, leaving many communities without essential medical services, clean water, and sanitation.
Gender-based violence remains a major concern, with 70% of women in crisis affected. Funding cuts exceeding $110 million have forced more than 60% of organizations providing clinical care, social protection, and assistance to survivors of sexual violence to scale back or halt services, leaving millions without support. The situation is expected to worsen in 2026, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and other vulnerable populations.
In a separate issue, WHO condemned a controversial trial in Guinea-Bissau examining the effects of the hepatitis B vaccine on newborns, calling it “unethical.” The trial would have given only half of 14,000 newborns a birth dose of the vaccine, potentially exposing the others to infection in a country with high hepatitis B prevalence. WHO emphasized that the vaccine is safe, effective, and widely used in over 150 countries, and withholding it violates basic ethical standards.
The trial, led by Dr. Christine Stabell Benn of the Bandim Health Project with a $1.6 million CDC grant, aimed to study non-specific effects of vaccines, including neurodevelopment by age five. WHO officials stressed that there is no evidence to justify withholding the vaccine, and that research must prioritize participant safety and policy relevance. Guinea-Bissau’s newly appointed Health Minister later indicated the trial had been suspended, although conflicting reports from the US Department of Health suggested it was proceeding. Critics, including US pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, have also raised concerns about the influence of vaccine misinformation on the study’s design and objectives.
Together, these developments highlight the intersecting humanitarian crises and ethical challenges facing
