Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region is confronting a rapidly worsening measles outbreak as ongoing violence continues to displace civilians and erode already fragile health services.
Medical and humanitarian officials warn that hospitals are struggling to cope with rising infections among displaced families, particularly young children, amid severe access and supply constraints.
Doctors Without Borders says measles cases are rising daily at Nyala Teaching Hospital in South Darfur, where the organization provides pediatric and maternal care.
Dr Ali Almohammed, an MSF emergency health manager, said, “We have 25 beds [in] isolation for measles, but every day the number of cases is increasing.”
He added that MSF’s ability to respond remains limited as the organization prioritizes lifesaving care amid expanding needs.
More than 1,300 new measles cases have been reported across Darfur since September, according to MSF.
The virus poses particular risks to children under five, while vaccination efforts have reached only a fraction of those at risk.
MSF said nearly 179,000 children were vaccinated over six months last year, compared with an estimated 5 million vulnerable children.
Access challenges persist as the organization is unable to operate in much of North and East Darfur because of ongoing fighting.
Other preventable diseases, including diphtheria and whooping cough, are also emerging, with vaccine deliveries described as insufficient.
MSF cited violence and administrative obstacles as major barriers to transporting vaccines.
The measles outbreak is unfolding alongside intensified conflict and mass displacement across Darfur and Kordofan.
More than 100,000 people fled El Fasher in North Darfur after the Rapid Support Forces seized the city in late October.
Thousands more have arrived in South Darfur localities, where families urgently need food, health services, and essential supplies.
OCHA reports rising displacement in South and West Kordofan, with tens of thousands moving into White Nile and eastern Sudan.
Attacks on healthcare facilities have further strained services, with the World Health Organization reporting high numbers of deaths and injuries linked to such attacks.
Humanitarian agencies continue to call for protection of civilians, medical workers, and unhindered humanitarian access across Sudan.