UNICEF warns of rising malnutrition in Sudan, Darfur children at highest risk
February 27, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) official in Sudan estimates that approximately 730,000 Sudanese children will be at risk of severe acute malnutrition – the most critical form of malnutrition – this year. He further identified Darfur as suffering from the most severe levels of malnutrition.
Osman Abu Fatima, the UNICEF’s emergency coordinator for the Red Sea and River Nile states, confirmed in an interview with “Sudan Tribune” that nearly four million children are expected to experience acute malnutrition in Sudan this year, with over 730,000 facing severe acute malnutrition, the most critical form.
Abu Fatima emphasized that these children will require specialized and continuous treatment.
He warned that “The Darfur region suffers from the highest levels of malnutrition in Sudan, with more than 200,000 children expected to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition this year”. He added that most healthcare facilities are almost non-functional.
States under the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) control are experiencing extensive closures of hospitals and health centres.
The war that erupted between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum in mid-April 2023 has since spread to several states in the Darfur and Kordofan regions and the Gezira state in central Sudan.
While UNICEF cannot provide an exact estimate of child deaths from malnutrition this year, Abu Fatima acknowledges that children face a dangerous combination of malnutrition and disease due to struggling health systems across the country.
He stressed that “Severely malnourished children are 11 times more likely to die than a well-nourished child because their weakened immune systems make common childhood illnesses like diarrhoea, malaria, and measles fatal.”
He appealed for increased funding to address the growing needs. UNICEF is seeking $840 million in 2024 to reach 9.9 million people, including 7.6 million children in Sudan, with essential services like protection, education, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and cash assistance.
UNICEF continues to provide life-saving nutrition services to children in Sudan, including those in conflict zones. Abu Fatima stated, “In 2023, 5.4 million children were screened for malnutrition, of whom 313,400 received treatment.”
He highlighted that UNICEF is currently the sole provider of ready-to-use therapeutic foods used to treat children suffering from acute malnutrition. They have secured supplies until July and are implementing expanded measures to prevent widespread loss of life.
(ST)