The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Improving access to water and health services in Sudan
UNOPS and the government of Japan are helping to restore critical water supply and network infrastructure damaged by the ongoing conflict for more than 2.2 million people, including host communities, internally displaced persons and refugees.
This article was originally published on 18 November 2024 and has been updated to reflect recent project developments.
Latest updates
February 2026
Sudan is grappling with one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.
More than 75 per cent of health facilities in conflict-affected areas of Sudan are non-functional, with 65 per cent of the population in Sudan currently lacking access to health care services.
As part of a Japan-funded project, UNOPS is rehabilitating health infrastructure and providing modern health equipment so that more than 600,000 people – including 495,000 Internally Displaced Persons – in Kassala Town and Port Sudan will have access to medical care
To date, UNOPS – in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health – has procured and delivered critical diagnostic and medical equipment, including 10 dialysis machines, 23 clinical microscopes, 2 laboratory refrigerators, a suite of analyzers, 10 wheelchairs and air conditioners vital for maintaining a stable environment for sensitive medical procedures.
Strengthening the capacity of the Kassala Dialysis Centre, in particular, is vital for providing life-saving healthcare for communities in Kassala and the wider eastern Sudan region, where access to specialized healthcare services remains limited and the demand for renal care continues to rise.
Read more here.
The conflict in Sudan has left millions of people without access to water and improved sanitation.
As part of a $4.75 million project funded by the government of Japan, UNOPS will help restore critical water supply and network infrastructure in Kassala State and Red Sea State as well as rehabilitate hospitals and procure medical equipment in both communities, improving access to water and health services for vulnerable people.
"We are pleased to announce Japan’s new contribution in collaboration with UNOPS to improving vitally important lifeline infrastructure to ensure human security for people in Sudan,” said H.E. Uyama Hideki, Ambassador of Japan to Denmark.
We are committed to making a tangible impact on the lives of people in Sudan and supporting communities that have been torn apart by conflict.
UNOPS will construct a pumping station, transmission lines and a water distribution network as well as procure equipment that will help ensure water quality and hygiene as part of the project. UNOPS will also provide institutional capacity building.
"This project will ensure millions of people in conflict-affected areas – including refugees and internally displaced persons – have access to vitally important water and health services," said Sonja Leighton-Kone, UNOPS Deputy Executive Director.
Read more here.
