Poverty in Sudan has risen sharply among citizens both inside the country and abroad, reaching 73%, Human Resources Minister Mutasim Ahmed Saleh said on Tuesday as he unveiled new programs aimed at supporting young people and women.

The latest figure was announced at a news conference in Cairo held alongside the launch of the second phase of a voluntary return initiative for Sudanese displaced by the conflict.

According to Saleh, the ministry's 2026 program centers on building partnerships to roll out 500,000 youth-focused projects. The plan also includes agricultural schemes that will provide beneficiaries with seeds and fertilizers to support livelihoods.

He said 15 partnerships have already been established to assist women's groups, adding that women participating in the initiatives have demonstrated strong commitment and effective project management.

The worsening humanitarian situation has been linked to the conflict that began on April 15, 2023. A report released by the United Nations Development Program in April warned that, should the conflict persist, extreme poverty could affect 36 million people by 2030, equivalent to around 60% of the population.

Saleh said the government has developed a five-year strategy covering 2026 to 2030 that seeks to improve livelihoods through support for more than three million small-scale projects. More than 10,000 projects are already prepared for implementation, he said, encouraging Sudanese returning from abroad to take advantage of the opportunities available.

The conflict has devastated livelihoods across both urban and rural areas, leaving many Sudanese without jobs or businesses and increasing dependence on humanitarian assistance and remittances from relatives overseas.

Saleh said authorities are working to restore stability and create conditions that would encourage displaced citizens to return home, noting that roughly four million Sudanese have expressed interest in voluntary repatriation.

According to the minister, electricity services have been restored to most parts of Khartoum and several other states despite the destruction of more than 14,700 transformers during the conflict. Rebuilding efforts, however, continue to face challenges because of lengthy import timelines for replacement equipment.

Water services in Khartoum have also partially resumed, reaching around a quarter of previous capacity despite extensive damage to infrastructure.

Saleh noted that community-led initiatives are helping rehabilitate hospitals and provide medical equipment, while Sudan is also drawing on Egyptian expertise in vocational training, reconstruction efforts and scholarship opportunities for Sudanese living in Egypt.

(Story compiled with assistance from wires)