In the last two weeks, at least 13 children between the ages of 1 and 6 have reportedly died of malnutrition in one location in Khartoum, according to health workers. “I really do not know what to do anymore. Children are dying, people are coming in sick with all the symptoms of malnutrition. They need food, not medicines,” said a health professional in Khartoum. In Dillinj, in the Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan, at least 6 children under the age of 6 were admitted to the hospital today, suffering from severe malnutrition. Additionally, another 70 children were diagnosed with severe malnutrition in one location over the past three days. The famine has been claiming numerous lives in Sudan for months, but recent reports from the ground reflect unprecedented levels of hunger and deaths in Khartoum, South Kordofan, and Darfur.
According to recent estimations from the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch research group “ up to 2.5 million people in Sudan could die from hunger-related causes by the end of September 2024, with the most affected regions being Darfur and Kordofan; this figure represents roughly 15% of the population in those areas.”
Recent reports highlight the severe impact of famine in Sudan, particularly in North Darfur. According to the United Nations, famine conditions have been confirmed in the Zamzam internally displaced persons (IDP) camp near Al Fasher, North Darfur State. This marks the first such report globally since 2017. The ongoing conflict and lack of humanitarian access have exacerbated the situation, leading to widespread acute food insecurity and famine conditions.
The ongoing war in Sudan has had a catastrophic impact on children, who are among the most vulnerable in the population. Sudan is now the world’s largest child displacement crisis, with over 4 million children displaced since the conflict began. Nearly 14 million children, or half of the children in the country, are in need of humanitarian assistance according to UNICEF. Close to 4 million children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year, including 730,000 who are expected to suffer from severe wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition. Sudan has one of the worst education crises in the world, with more than 90% of the country’s 19 million school-age children having no access to formal education. The ongoing disruption to education will result in a generational crisis for Sudan, severely impacting the future of millions of children.
These figures and testimonies underscore the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid and protection for children in Sudan. The international community must act swiftly to provide the necessary support and ensure that children’s rights and well-being are safeguarded amidst the ongoing conflict. Local groups, especially women and youth led initiatives must be supported urgently to respond the mounting hunger. These groups are operating in the most difficult areas, that international aid groups are not able to access. To achieve effective response to this catastrophic situation, an efficient partnership with local responders is the key to save the lives of millions of children in Sudan. The international community must act now, any delay will cost more lives of children in Sudan.
