Hi there,

I have an update for you on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

We received the shocking news that we had lost contact with our staff at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher. In case you missed it, you can read more in the update below.

We have now received confirmation that a massacre occurred at the hospital. At least 460 patients and their family members have been killed, including pregnant women, new mothers, and babies who were under the care of our midwives.

“I was performing surgery in the hospital when heavy shelling occurred. A mortar hit the hospital. I was so worried because the woman's wounds were open, and everyone was running around me,” Dr. Suhiba, a gynecologist, shared with us in the aftermath. Today, we only know the fate of just 8 of the 98 staff who were working at the hospital. We hope for the others’ safe return.

To kill women as they prepare to bring new life into the world is an unspeakable atrocity. We strongly condemn this appalling attack and our hearts are with the families and staff who have been impacted by the violence.

This facility was the last partially functioning hospital in El Fasher and was a critical lifeline for women and girls. Today, we are bulking up support in the surrounding areas, so the 70,000 people who have fled El Fasher have access to care.

A humanitarian ceasefire agreement was just announced and our teams need support now to begin reaching women and girls recovering from these attacks.

Please, if you’re able, will you make a gift to deliver care to women and girls surviving violence in Sudan and around the world?

MAKE A GIFT

Thank you for being there when women and girls need support most.

Sincerely,

Anu Surendran
Chief Executive Officer
USA for UNFPA

 

----- Begin forwarded message: -----
From: SUDAN ALERT @ USA for UNFPA
Date: Oct 29, 2025 at 10:04am
Subject: Repeated attacks destroyed the last maternity hospital
To: Supporter
 

ALERT: We have lost all contact with our staff at the last maternity hospital in El Fasher, Sudan — one of the hardest hit areas in the world's largest humanitarian crisis. We are receiving alarming reports of midwives being abducted and thousands of women and girls are in immediate danger as essential medical services are disrupted and violence skyrockets. Will you rush an emergency gift to deploy staff and supplies to Sudan and crisis zones around the world? RUSH EMERGENCY RELIEF NOW

An image from the inside of the last maternity hospital in Sudan after repeated attacks last week. We have lost all contact with our staff and the hospital may be completely destroyed. ©UNFPA Sudan

El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur State in Sudan, is one of the hardest hit regions in the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. For the past 18 months, the city has been under siege and faced constant violence. 6,200 pregnant women are currently trapped there without medical care or humanitarian aid.

We are receiving alarming reports of midwives being abducted or killed during recent attacks and we are anxious for their safe return.

The siege has created shortages of food and medicines, leaving the entire city hungry and weak. Famine was declared in multiple displacement camps in El Fasher last December. These camps were supposed to be safe havens for women, girls, and families fleeing violence in other regions of Sudan.

Instead, pregnant women and their babies are more vulnerable to life-threatening childbirth complications, and all women and girls are at extreme risk of sexual violence.

Women and girls in Sudan are counting on your support today. In the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, UNFPA is one of the few organizations providing essential maternal health services, treatment and safe shelter for survivors of sexual violence, and access to vital family planning resources and menstrual health products. Please, will you rush an emergency gift to deploy lifesaving care to women and girls in Sudan and crisis zones around the world?

RUSH MY EMERGENCY GIFT

Sumaia holds her severely malnourished eight-month-old baby, Ainaya. Like many families, she has had little to no access to food or medical care since she fled to Tawila from El Fasher. ©UNFPA Sudan

Thanks to supporters like you, UNFPA has prepositioned teams and supplies to reach 300,000 people in El Fasher with sexual and reproductive health services and support 800 safe deliveries, as soon as humanitarian access is granted. We are also scaling up our response in neighboring cities to provide care to women and girls fleeing the violence.

We will update you as soon as we have more information. Thank you for being there.

— USA for UNFPA