June 9, 2026 (CAIRO) - A government representative stated on Tuesday that the percentage of people living in poverty within and beyond Sudan has risen to 73%, revealing plans aimed at assisting young individuals and females.
Over the last twenty years, Sudan made strides in reducing poverty, as the percentage decreased from 38.1% in 1990 to 15.6% in 2011; however, according to UN statistics, this figure increased again to 45% by 2023.
The Human Resources Minister, Mutasim Ahmed Saleh, revealed the revised number at a press briefing in Cairo coinciding with the initiation of the second stage of a voluntary repatriation initiative.
Saleh mentioned that his department's strategy for this year centers around forming collaborations to carry out 500,000 projects aimed at young people, along with farming programs offering seeds and fertilizers.
The official stated that 15 collaborations have been formed to assist women's organizations, highlighting that women have handled these initiatives with dedication and effectiveness.
By November 2025, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Welfare reported that poverty increased from 21% to 71% as a result of the ongoing conflict, affecting approximately 24 million individuals who fell beneath the World Bank's $3-a-day threshold for poverty.
A report from the United Nations Development Programme released in April cautioned that severe poverty might impact 60% of the populace by 2030, endangering 36 million individuals, should the fighting persist.
Saleh presented a five-year strategy from 2026 to 2030 designed to ensure sustenance by backing over three million small initiatives intended to enhance financial situations.
The official stated that over 10,000 initiatives are prepared for recipients, encouraging individuals who have returned from overseas to seize the existing chances.
Many people from Sudan have lost their employment and enterprises following the fighting that began on April 15, 2023, which damaged sources of income in both countryside and city regions, leading to increased dependence on money sent back by relatives abroad and humanitarian assistance.
The ability to withstand hardship has declined due to an economic downturn, pushing numerous households toward harmful strategies such as cutting back on daily meals, eating cheaper food, disposing of possessions, engaging children in labor, and arranging early marriages.
Saleh stated that the Sudanese authorities are undertaking substantial measures to bring back peace and order, noting that approximately four million people from Sudan have shown interest in returning voluntarily.
Power supply has returned to as many as 80% of Khartoum and various regions, even though over 14,700 transformers were completely destroyed throughout the conflict, according to Saleh, who added that recovery continues to face difficulties because of delays in importing necessary materials.
Many areas of Khartoum State have recovered electricity supply, although the state has managed to restore water services up to 25% of their original level amid significant damage to infrastructure.
The authorities are striving to establish conditions favorable for residents to come back and secure employment, especially after the restart of financial support via banks, the Zakat Council, and the Anti-Poverty Agency.
Saleh mentioned that initiatives within the community are being implemented to restore hospitals and supply them with medical facilities, alongside utilizing Egyptian knowledge in technical education, rebuilding projects, and offering scholarships to Sudanese people studying in Egypt.