Health professionals—from seasoned veterans to newly trained medical students—are fleeing Sudan at an alarming rate. At the root of this mass migration lies the destructive effects of the Sudanese civil war, which has already displaced over 11 million people since the conflict first unfolded in April 2023, while more than 3 million have fled Sudan. Hospitals have been bombed, medical schools shuttered, and humanitarian aid obstructed, forcing Sudan’s healthcare workers to seek opportunities elsewhere, often turning to adjacent countries.
These conditions pose an immediate challenge for Sudan’s hospitals, along with a considerably more devastating long-term crisis: if and when peace returns, who will be left to rebuild Sudan’s healthcare system? In navigating the complexities of restoring Sudan to a healthier state, the role of its authoritarian government in the crisis, the sluggish inflow of humanitarian aid, and the worsening conditions for those left behind must be acknowledged.
Beyond the physical destruction, the government has blocked humanitarian aid across conflict zones, preventing fundamental medical supplies from reaching hospitals. Doctors have been forced to reuse IV sets, while hospitals run out of basic medicines, and healthcare collapses further. With no resources and no safety, many Sudanese medical professionals see no future in staying. The corrupt regime counterproductively acts as an overbearing political institution that pushes doctors out.
While Sudan faces what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, international aid has fallen drastically short. In 2024, $2.7 billion was requested for humanitarian aid, but only $1.76 billion (65.3%) of that amount was funded.
So far this year, 30.5 million of the 47.5 million total population has been reported as in need of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, 20.9 million are considered the most vulnerable and are prioritized for receiving assistance. The UN established a requirement of $4.2 billion dollars to deliver life-saving aid. As of January 2025, only 2.78% of the funding has been covered, meaning a $4 billion dollar funding gap still remains. This shortfall becomes blatantly more apparent when taking into account that the United States has already committed $183 billion to Ukraine’s war effort—a glaring disparity compared to the humanitarian aid requested to alleviate Sudan’s public crisis.
The lack of international support has accelerated the flight of medical workers. Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an independent organization that provides medical assistance to people in need, has condemned the “deeply inadequate” international response, noting that hospitals lack everything from diagnostic tools to life-saving drugs. Faced with an uncertain future, many healthcare workers see no choice but to flee.
As doctors and medical students flee, millions of Sudanese families are left behind with dwindling access to medical care. At various points in the war, more than half of Sudan’s population faced starvation. War-related trauma—malnourished children, rape survivors, and victims of bombings—often goes untreated. Those doctors who remain face crushing workloads, mental exhaustion, and constant danger.
Even if the war ends, Sudan’s healthcare system may take decades to recover. Without trained professionals, the country will struggle to rebuild hospitals, restore medical education, provide basic healthcare, and prevent the staggering departures of Sudan’s health professionals.
By Jack Murdock