Female-headed households face extreme deprivation in war-torn Sudan, UN report
January 1, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Female-headed households in Sudan are experiencing significantly higher levels of vulnerability, financial exclusion, and water deprivation than male-headed households as the conflict dismantles traditional family structures, according to a report by UN Women.
The study, based on the 2025 Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) published by the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GIHA) Working Group, reveals that these households now constitute roughly one-third of the country’s humanitarian caseload. The widespread disruption of family structures due to conflict and displacement has forced many women into the role of sole provider, often while carrying higher care burdens and facing limited income options.
These households are disproportionately concentrated in conflict-affected regions. In South Darfur, female-headed households account for 18.5% of households, compared to 8.0% for male-headed households, with similar disparities across the Darfur states. This indicates that women are more likely to live in areas with the highest conflict intensity, displacement, and protection risks, reflecting patterns of widowhood and family separation.
The report highlights a growing “assistance gap” where children in female-headed households are less likely to receive education-related support than those in male-headed households. This disparity increases the risk of school dropout, child labour, and child marriage. Furthermore, these women are more likely to be displaced into urban and peri-urban settings where livelihoods are unstable, and competition for assistance is higher.
Financial exclusion remains a critical barrier to survival. Female-headed households are nearly 40% more likely than male-headed households to be excluded entirely from any financial services. While they rely more on mobile money, they are also nearly 60% more likely to use “hawala” and other informal transfer mechanisms, which offer less security.
The economic and social pressures facing these families are severe, as most female heads of household are in their prime caregiving years, forced to combine income generation with intensive domestic responsibilities. This convergence leads to higher dependency ratios and extreme “time poverty,” which heightens vulnerability to negative coping strategies like asset depletion. In terms of basic needs, these households are 40% more likely to experience extreme water deprivation, with over 8% reporting no access to water for any household needs.
Health and safety indicators are equally concerning. Nearly 30% of female-headed households lack awareness of available maternal and reproductive health services, while 65% of displaced households report that menstrual hygiene materials are unaffordable. Nationally, 26% of women and girls avoid certain areas due to safety concerns, a figure that rises to 72% in North Darfur.
UN Women and the GIHA Working Group called on humanitarian actors to make female-headed households a named priority group in aid allocation. The report recommended expanding cash-based assistance with flexible delivery options and ensuring that water and sanitation interventions prioritize the safety and proximity of access for women and girls.