Twenty children die from malnutrition in Sudan’s North Darfur

June 4, 2025 (TAWILA) – Twenty children died from malnutrition in the Tawila area of North Darfur during April and May, a spokesperson for the Displaced Persons and Refugee Coordination told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

Adam Rejal said 500 children and pregnant women also suffered from malnutrition in Tawila in the same period.

Tawila, controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nur, hosts hundreds of thousands of people displaced from fighting in El Fasher and from Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps.

Displaced people arriving from those areas without resources or belongings complain of a weak humanitarian response to their needs, Rejal said. Tawila faces ongoing challenges, including a continuous influx of displaced people from El Fasher, severe water shortages and a lack of food supplies.

Rejal highlighted a critical shortage of shelter materials, noting that less than 10% of actual needs have been met. With the rainy season approaching, the shelter crisis is expected to worsen, he added.

He called for urgent provision of life-saving medicines, particularly for malnutrition, along with shelter materials and solutions to the water crisis. Rejal appealed to the international community to increase donor support to meet the immediate needs of the displaced in Tawila.

The spokesperson also urged international organizations to visit the Tanjer Dam area south of Tawila to assess the needs of displaced people who have arrived from Abu Shouk, Zamzam, El Fasher and Kutum camps, stressing their need for life-saving assistance.

Health conditions in Tawila have deteriorated, with concerns that they may worsen further during the rainy season. This could lead to a widespread outbreak of waterborne diseases, especially cholera and acute diarrhoea.