The children of Sudan are facing a dire crisis as malnutrition rates soar amid the ongoing war. A recent analysis highlights that the conflict has exacerbated the drivers of child malnutrition, including lack of access to nutritious food, safe drinking water, and sanitation. The situation is compounded by massive population displacement as families flee the violence, placing children at even greater risk of disease and death.
The year-long conflict has severely impacted the delivery of humanitarian supplies, leaving countless women and children without access to vital food and nutritional support. Aid organizations are struggling to deliver nutrition products due to increasing violence and bureaucratic obstacles, hindering access to the most affected areas.
Child malnutrition in Sudan is at emergency levels. In Central Darfur, acute malnutrition is estimated at 15.6 percent among children under five, while in ZamZam camp it’s close to 30 percent. The situation has worsened in recent months, showing no signs of abating due to continued conflict and severely hindered humanitarian access. Malnutrition is life-threatening, with malnourished children up to 11 times more likely to die than well-nourished children. The long-term effects of malnutrition can be devastating, affecting physical and cognitive development and posing a grave threat to Sudan’s future.
The situation is equally alarming among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. A recent screening in ZamZam camp, North Darfur, found over 33 percent of these women to be malnourished, suggesting they are sacrificing their own needs to feed their children. This poses a significant risk to both mothers and their unborn children, with up to 30 percent of child malnutrition beginning in utero.
“Children in Sudan are facing horrific violence, displacement, and now potential famine,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “When children suffer from serious forms of malnutrition, it harms their development and can cause lifelong damage. Urgent humanitarian access is needed so children can receive food, water, medical care, and shelter. But most of all, children need peace.”
“Mothers and children across Sudan are wasting away from malnutrition,” added WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “The ongoing war has stripped them of everything they need to survive. Immediate and safe access to deliver humanitarian assistance is crucial. Without it, this crisis risks becoming the world’s largest hunger emergency.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the long-term impact of malnutrition, noting that malnourished children face a lifetime of developmental challenges and are more susceptible to infectious diseases. “The clock is ticking, edging Sudan’s mothers and children closer to famine,” he said.
The rainy season, starting in June, will further cut off communities and raise disease rates, while the lean season will see food stocks running low. This is particularly concerning this year due to below-normal agricultural production caused by insecurity and displacement.
Humanitarian organizations are calling for immediate, unimpeded access to the hardest-hit communities and a de-escalation of the conflict. They also urge renewed and significant support from donors to avert the worst outcomes. The window to save Sudan’s children is rapidly closing.