The dire situation in war-torn Sudan has reached a critical point, with three UN agencies issuing a stark warning of a “significant deterioration” in the nutrition status of children and mothers in the country. The United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Food Program (WFP) have sounded the alarm, calling for urgent action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict for over a year, with ongoing hostilities between the regular army led by de facto ruler Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, with up to 15,000 reported in a single town in West Darfur. Additionally, nearly nine million people have been displaced from their homes as a result of the violence.
The UN agencies highlighted the impact of the conflict on the nutrition situation in Sudan, citing a lack of access to nutritious food, safe drinking water, and sanitation as key drivers of child malnutrition. The situation is exacerbated by the increased risk of disease due to the ongoing hostilities. The agencies warned that Sudan is at risk of conflict-induced famine, which could have catastrophic consequences, especially for young children.
Child malnutrition in Sudan has reached emergency levels, with acute malnutrition estimated to be as high as 15.6 percent among children under five in Central Darfur. In the Zamzam camp for displaced people in North Darfur, the rate is close to 30 percent. The agencies emphasized the urgent need for access to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need, stressing that millions of lives are at stake.
WFP head Cindy McCain underscored the critical nature of the situation, stating, “We need immediate and safe access to deliver the humanitarian assistance that they so desperately need.” She warned that without swift action from the international community, there is a risk of losing an entire generation of children to malnutrition and its devastating consequences.
The agencies emphasized that time is of the essence, with the window to avert the worst rapidly closing. They called on the international community to act decisively to address the crisis in Sudan and prevent further suffering and loss of life. Urgent action is needed to ensure that children and mothers in Sudan receive the necessary support and assistance to survive this humanitarian emergency.
In conclusion, the situation in Sudan demands immediate attention and action from the global community. The plight of children and mothers in the country is dire, and without swift intervention, the consequences could be catastrophic. It is imperative that humanitarian aid reaches those in need promptly to prevent further suffering and loss of life. The time to act is now before it is too late.