In a recent joint study by UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), findings indicate that the ongoing conflict in Sudan is exacerbating child malnutrition.
The report highlights severe impacts on access to food and clean drinking water, heightening the risk of diseases among children.
On Thursday, the three UN agencies issued a dire warning about the deteriorating nutritional status of children and their mothers in war-torn Sudan, calling for immediate action.
UNICEF, WHO, and WFP stated in a joint release, “Sudanese children’s lives are at risk, necessitating urgent measures to protect an entire generation from malnutrition, disease, and death.”
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict for over a year, with clashes between the army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, it has claimed tens of thousands of lives. In Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, alone, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people have died, according to UN data.
Both the army and RSF have been accused of indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas and obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries, with the RSF specifically facing allegations of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
The study by UNICEF, WFP, and WHO notes that the ongoing fighting is worsening the causes of child malnutrition, significantly affecting access to food and potable water, thereby increasing the risk of diseases.
The situation is further aggravated by mass displacement, as many people flee conflict zones. The UN agencies warn that Sudan faces an increased risk of conflict-induced famine, which could have catastrophic consequences, including loss of life, particularly among young children.
The prolonged conflict has severely impacted the delivery of humanitarian aid, leaving many women and children without access to essential food supplies, hindered by rising violence and bureaucratic hurdles.
Child malnutrition has reached critical levels, especially in Central Darfur, where 15.6% of children under five are affected.
“We urgently need safe and immediate access to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid,” said Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director, in the statement. “Millions of lives are at stake, and the international community must act now, or we risk losing an entire generation of children.”
The UN agencies emphasized that the window to avert the worst outcomes is closing rapidly.
