Sudan

Sudan is one of the 24 priority countries for the Italian Cooperation programming and, since 2000, has benefited from financing of the value of 128 million Euro. In 2011 the country experienced a period of profound change due to the secession of South Sudan and the consequent loss of over 75% of oil revenues. The stabilization of relations between the two countries was a central element of the country's internal and foreign policies, which saw the start of a profound economic crisis. These problems are flanked by internal tensions and conflicts in Darfur, still affected by a serious humanitarian emergency, in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Abyei. Sudan is at the lower levels of the Human Development Index, 171th in 187 countries, with serious imbalances between the centre and the periphery, as well as the lack and degradation of essential public services such as water, health, education and infrastructure. The secession with the South has had a strong impact on the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which from an annual growth rate of 10% has suffered a substantial drop to 2.9%, with similar estimates for the next three years. In 2007 Sudanese per capita income surpassed the average of sub-Saharan African countries and stood at $ 1,500 compared to $ 1,351 registered in the region. Most of the Sudanese population lives in conditions of poverty, with strong social inequalities. Life expectancy at birth is 60 years for men and 64 for women. Each woman gives birth to an average of 4.5 children, and 73 children in 1,000 die within the fifth year of age. Nutritional data presents alarming levels, higher than the average of sub-Saharan African countries: about 40% of children under the age of 5 suffers from malnutrition.