West Darfur is the least populated of the three Darfur States with about 41% of the population residing in internally-displaced person (IDP) camps and hard-to-reach areas. The fluid security situation in some areas is leading to a lack of access to essential services for vulnerable populations.

The increasing accessibility of more areas to returnees is further increasing the demand for essential services. This is compounding the current gap in service delivery due to the lack of a critical mass of humanitarian actors, coupled with the departure of nongovernment organizations.

The frequent cross-border population movement with Chad increases the likelihood of the importation of communicable diseases, including wild poliovirus, into West Darfur.

The WHO Health Resources Availability Mapping System shows gaps in access to, and utilization of, health services. On average, 69% of health facilities are functioning: hospitals (100%), primary health care centres (92%) and basic health units (52%). Rural hospital coverage is 50%.

Functioning levels are not the same for all facilities and some are performing at their lowest capacity. Only 46% of functioning primary health care centres have the recommended number and type of health workers. Immunization services are provided by 79% of functioning health facilities.