Sudan
DARFUR REGION
International Medical Corps has worked throughout Sudan’s Darfur Region since 2004, providing health, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. Sudan, once the largest and one of the most geographically diverse states in Africa, split into two countries in July 2011, after the people of the south voted for independence. In 2019, Sudan’s regime of nearly three decades was removed, leaving the country with a transitional government that is supposed to last for three years.
Today, tribal conflict and intercommunal violence in Darfur continue to severely affect civilians, especially women and children. Millions remain in displacement camps, relying almost entirely on humanitarian aid for basic services, while funding constraints continue to affect the ongoing humanitarian response in the country. In many of the sites in which we operate, we are the only provider of primary health care or nutrition services, making us a key partner to the Ministry of Health in the health response in the region.
40,235,000
62/66
male/female
68
per 1000 live births
The Challenges
Weak Health System
25% of health facilities in Darfur are non-functional
Inadequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Cause of malnutrition and communicable diseases, resulting in high morbidity and mortality in vulnerable communities
Poor Nutrition
Malnutrition is widespread in Darfur - 8 out of 18 states have malnutrition rates above the emergency threshold of 15%
Our Response
Health Care
International Medical Corps currently supports and operates in 88 health facilities across Sudan, delivering essential health services, strengthening health systems and providing resources for the deployment of skilled health workers to those facilities. Essential health services include disease treatment and prevention, reproductive healthcare, health education, immunization, child healthcare and surveillance, and referrals to emergency- and secondary-level health services, including surgery and obstetric care. We also provide comprehensive reproductive health services for mothers, as well as integrated management of childhood illnesses and assistance with newborn care. Through our facilities, International Medical Corps sees an average of 35,000 new patients per month.
Nutrition
International Medical Corps provides nutrition services to populations in Sudan most vulnerable to hunger, including children under five years old, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Of the 88 health facilities in which we operate, 73 have integrated nutrition activities, including infant and young-child feeding practices. We also run nine stabilization centers for malnourished children with life-threatening medical complications. On average, per month we treat 1,586 patients with moderate acute malnutrition and 832 patients with severe acute malnutrition. In addition, our mother support groups work to prevent malnutrition by promoting proper infant-feeding practices at health facilities and within communities.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
By expanding access to clean water, creating proper waste disposal systems and providing safe sanitation facilities, International Medical Corps restores healthy living conditions. Hygiene promotion is regularly conducted in targeted locations at both the health facility and community levels. In Central Darfur, International Medical Corps implements Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) activities, which mobilizes communities to improve sanitation and hygiene by focusing on behavior change.