MSF warns of measles outbreak in Sudan’s Darfur region

(MENAFN) Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned of a growing measles outbreak in Sudan’s Darfur region, reporting over 1,300 confirmed cases since September 2025 due to delays in vaccination campaigns. The organization cited repeated postponements of emergency immunizations and interruptions to routine vaccination programs, leaving children unprotected as the disease spreads.

Sudan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023 over a military unification dispute. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced approximately 13 million people.

MSF urged authorities to remove bureaucratic and administrative barriers that hinder vaccine distribution in Darfur and called on UNICEF to coordinate the rapid delivery of vaccines, syringes, and essential medical supplies. The organization also pressed federal and state health ministries to immediately launch measles vaccination drives and restore routine immunization programs.

Ahmed Fadel, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Darfur, emphasized that measles is preventable through timely vaccination, but the ongoing conflict and administrative obstacles have severely limited access to immunizations. “These delays leave children exposed to potentially deadly diseases,” he said.

Fadel noted that over 34% of patients in Zalingei and Nyala suffer from acute malnutrition, which intensifies measles complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis.

Meanwhile, ongoing fighting in the three Kordofan states has displaced tens of thousands more.

Currently, the RSF controls most of Darfur, except for parts of northern North Darfur held by the army, while the army dominates the majority of Sudan’s other states, including the capital Khartoum. The situation underscores the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian and vaccination efforts to prevent further outbreaks.

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