KHARTOUM, 06 September 2026 – The Government of the Republic of Korea has provided an additional USD 2 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), bringing its total contribution to the Relief, Employment and Vital Infrastructure for the Vulnerable in Emergencies (REVIVE) initiative, Phase II, in Sudan to USD 8 million.

The expanded allocation will support an integrated early recovery response in El Obeid, North Kordofan, alongside preparedness assistance for displaced and disaster-exposed families in high-risk areas.

El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan and a strategic gateway between central Sudan and Darfur, has come under increasing pressure as fighting intensifies across the Kordofan region. The city has faced repeated drone attacks and prolonged insecurity, while continued fighting in surrounding areas has driven further displacement towards El Obeid and placed growing pressure on already strained services.

The United Nations has warned of the grave risks to civilians from any further escalation in and around the city. At the same time, El Obeid remains a crucial hub for humanitarian operations across the wider Kordofan region, making the continued functioning of essential infrastructure and local services particularly important.

Conflict and insecurity have damaged critical infrastructure and disrupted access to water, food, healthcare and markets. Water and fuel shortages have placed additional pressure on households and essential services, while community kitchens, bakeries, markets and small businesses are struggling to continue operating under increasingly difficult conditions.

In response, REVIVE II will rehabilitate and solarize eight critical points across the water network and water stations, helping restore reliable water access for approximately 13,000 people. The project will also support debris and solid waste removal and deliver explosive ordnance risk education, helping reduce physical risks and restore safe access to essential infrastructure for 8,000 people.

In coordination with humanitarian actors, these interventions will create cash-for-work opportunities for 700 people, at least 40 per cent of whom will be women. The programme will also provide grants, inputs and solar energy support to 10 community kitchens and bakeries, along with associated market traders and small businesses, helping sustain food production, livelihoods and local market activity under severe pressure.

“In a crisis, support delivered early can prevent hardship from multiplying,” said Park Sang-tae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sudan. “Korea’s expanded contribution will help REVIVE II restore the local systems that sustain daily life in El Obeid while helping vulnerable families prepare before seasonal hazards strike. We believe acting early can spare families from further loss and give communities a firmer footing for recovery.”

The allocation will also strengthen preparedness ahead of Sudan’s wet and dry season peaks. UNDP will procure and distribute 1,000 family tents, 50 classroom tents, 2,000 blanket sets and 5,000 long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets, reaching approximately 27,000 people.

Across its activities, the programme will prioritize displaced households, female-headed households, older persons and persons with disabilities.

“In a prolonged crisis, we cannot wait for the conflict to end before investing in recovery,” said Luca Renda, UNDP Resident Representative in Sudan. “With the Republic of Korea’s support, REVIVE II will provide critical assistance in El Obeid while helping protect the water systems, markets and livelihoods that allow communities to keep going. Acting now helps reduce immediate hardship, strengthen resilience and preserve the foundations from which recovery can eventually take hold.”

The supplementary allocation is expected to benefit 48,700 people directly and a further 13,800 indirectly. It builds on the initial USD 6 million Sudan programme announced in August 2026. REVIVE Phase II forms part of a wider USD 50 million partnership between UNDP and the Republic of Korea across Afghanistan, Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, South Sudan and Syria.

Media contact

Abdullah Ismail
Communications Analyst, UNDP Sudan
abdullah.ismail@undp.org
Mobile and WhatsApp: +249 96 060 1747

About REVIVE

REVIVE (Relief, Employment and Vital Infrastructure for the Vulnerable in Emergencies) is UNDP’s flagship global partnership with the Government of the Republic of Korea for advancing early recovery in crisis-affected countries. Phase II supports Afghanistan, Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, South Sudan and Syria, linking urgent assistance with the restoration of essential services, livelihoods and local recovery capacities.

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries and territories, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.