The Government of Italy has made a significant contribution to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support Sudan's health emergency response. Through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Italy has provided €3.5 million to strengthen Sudan's health emergency response. This funding will support lifesaving public health interventions across 15 states in Sudan.
The three-year initiative aims to improve access to essential health services for conflict-affected populations in Sudan. It will also strengthen preparedness and response to public health emergencies and mitigate the impact of the ongoing conflict on Sudan's health system. The initiative will support Public Health Emergency Operations Centres and enhance health authorities' capacity to detect and respond to disease outbreaks.
The Italian funds will also expand vaccination campaigns to address gaps in immunization. More than 3 million people are expected to benefit from this funding, including over 730,000 people who will be reached through vaccination campaigns. This includes children who will receive catch-up vaccinations after missing routine immunization due to conflict and displacement.
The contribution comes as conflict continues to disrupt health services across Sudan and humanitarian needs are growing. In 2026, 33.7 million people in Sudan will need humanitarian assistance, including 21 million in need of health assistance. Close to 40 percent of health facilities are non-functional across Sudan, rising to 70–80 percent in conflict-affected areas.
Italy's Ambassador to Sudan, Silvio Mignano, emphasized that this funding is part of Italy's longstanding support and commitment to the health sector in Sudan. He stated that health is the basis of human well-being and Italy is committed to supporting efforts to improve access to healthcare for Sudan's people, even in these difficult times.
The World Health Organization's Representative in Sudan, Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the Government of Italy for its continued solidarity with the Sudanese people. He noted that this contribution will support WHO's health emergency response and help strengthen the capacity of Sudan's health authorities to sustain a robust public health system.
Through its collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and health partners, WHO supports Sudan by coordinating the health emergency response, strengthening disease surveillance and outbreak response, ensuring the supply of essential medicines and medical supplies, building health workforce capacity, and supporting health system recovery. The contribution from Italy will help sustain these efforts and improve access to essential services for people affected by the conflict.
Key points
- Italy donates €3.5 million to support Sudan's health emergency response
- Over 3 million people expected to benefit from Italian funds
- Funding to support vaccination campaigns and strengthen health authorities' capacity
