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STORY: UN / WHO SUDAN INTERVIEW
TRT: 04:38
SOURCE: UN NEWS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 DECEMBER 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, the United Nations flag
22 DECEMBER 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan:
“The health system is on the brink of collapse under this strain. And we know that many of the facilities are not functioning in many states within Sudan. Now, if I give you just a few figures, if I talk about these disease outbreaks: cholera is being reported from 18 states, with reports of over 123,000 cases that led to more than 3,500 deaths.”
3. Med shot, UN flag
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan:
“With regards to dengue, we have more than 53,000 cases with over 145 deaths that are reported from 14 states. This is just to say that it covers the whole country. The same for malaria: over 1.4 million malaria cases in 16 states, with very high transmission. As you know, the weather and the conditions in Sudan are in favor of the spread of malaria and dengue through the mosquitoes, as you know. But also VPD, the vaccine preventable diseases outbreaks such as measles and polio, are being reported in many states as we speak. Now, this is the disease outbreak.
5. Med shot, UN flag
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan:
“If we talk about malnutrition, Sudan is one of the world's largest food crisis. And it's a shame to say this about Sudan, because it used to be considered as the food basket of the whole region. So now, as we speak, I can tell you that over 21 million people are facing high levels of acute malnutrition and food insecurity. Forty-five per cent of the population are in IPC three and plus IPC three, four and five, which is basically famine. Sudan is also among the top four countries globally with the highest prevalence of global acute malnutrition, affecting — if I look at my notes — they are affecting 13.6 per cent of the population.”
7. Med shot, UN flag
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan:
“Also, children under five years and pregnant or breastfeeding women or lactating women are particularly vulnerable, and 4.9 million are in urgent need of lifesaving nutrition interventions. Also, children under five, almost 800,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition in 2025, which is called SAM — severe acute malnutrition.”
9. Med shot, UN flag
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan:
“Also, if I give other figures, more than 40,000 children that had severe acute malnutrition with medical complications were admitted to stabilization centers in 2025, where W.H.O. is providing treatment. So this is just to say that the needs are huge. The health situation is really worsening and worrying, but at the same time there are a lot of challenges due to access, due to attacks on healthcare, but also due to lack of resources — human resources, but mainly financial resources.”
11. Med shot, UN flag
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan:
“The needs continue to increase and funds are decreasing, with priorities shifting among the donors. So, what we need is more and sustainable funding, because it's critical if we are to adequately respond to the health needs in Sudan. If I give few examples, the HNRP, which is the humanitarian needs and the response plan for 2025, is only 36 per cent funded, and the health sector is only 47.7 per cent funded. And we are at the last month of the year. Talking about WHO, we are on the same branch. So, we have less than 40 per cent funded for 2025. So, our first ask for the international community is to support, to keep an eye on Sudan, and to support Sudan financially with the funding.”
13. Med shot, UN flag
“The health system is on the brink of collapse under this strain,” said Shible Sahbani, the World Health Organization’s Representative in Sudan, warning that large parts of the country’s health infrastructure are no longer functioning as conflict, disease outbreaks and hunger deepen an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Speaking to UN News today (22 Dec), Sahbani said disease outbreaks are spreading across nearly the entire country. Cholera has been reported in 18 states, with more than 123,000 cases and over 3,500 deaths, underscoring what he described as the immense pressure on a fragile health system.
Dengue fever is also surging, with more than 53,000 cases and over 145 deaths reported from 14 states. “This is just to say that it covers the whole country,” Sahbani said, adding that malaria transmission remains extremely high, with more than 1.4 million cases recorded in 16 states. He noted that weather conditions are fueling the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, while outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio are also being reported in multiple areas.
Beyond disease, Sahbani said Sudan is facing one of the world’s largest food and nutrition crises. “It’s a shame to say this about Sudan, because it used to be considered as the food basket of the whole region,” he said. According to WHO, more than 21 million people are facing high levels of acute malnutrition and food insecurity, with 45 percent of the population classified in IPC Phase 3 or worse — including famine-like conditions.
Sudan is now among the four countries globally with the highest prevalence of global acute malnutrition, affecting 13.6 percent of the population. Children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women are particularly vulnerable, Sahbani said, with 4.9 million people in urgent need of lifesaving nutrition interventions.
He added that nearly 800,000 children under five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition in 2025, known as SAM, placing them at high risk of death without treatment. More than 40,000 children with severe acute malnutrition and medical complications were admitted to stabilization centers this year, where WHO is supporting care.
Sahbani said the worsening health situation is compounded by limited access, attacks on health facilities and a severe lack of resources, particularly funding. “The needs continue to increase and funds are decreasing,” he warned, as donor priorities shift elsewhere.
The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Sudan is only 36 percent funded, with the health sector at 47.7 percent, Sahbani said, while WHO’s own operations are less than 40 percent funded with just weeks left in the year. He urged the international community to maintain focus on Sudan and provide sustained financial support to prevent further deterioration of the country’s health crisis.
