Darfur Famine: Over 560 children dead, millions at risk
March 25, 2024 (NYALA) – The General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees reveals over 561 children have died from food shortages and malnutrition in just 11 months of war. This translates to a devastating average of 17 child deaths daily.
These figures tragically confirm warnings issued by UNICEF last year. They estimated that over 13.6 million Sudanese children desperately need life-saving humanitarian aid – the highest number ever recorded in the country.
Earlier this year, UNICEF predicted a grim outlook, estimating 700,000 Sudanese children would suffer severe malnutrition in 2024, potentially leading to tens of thousands of deaths.
Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the displaced people’s coordination committee, confirmed the desperate situation in Darfur. Over 5.9 million displaced people in Darfur camps face severe food shortages, with many already suffering from malnutrition. Basic necessities like fortified food for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly are also critically lacking.
Rijal painted a bleak picture of the camps’ healthcare system. There’s a critical shortage of life-saving medicines, and primary healthcare centres are shutting down due to a lack of personnel and supplies. Additionally, 70% of the camps’ water sources are now inoperable, creating a severe water shortage.
He alarmingly stated that over one million children in displacement camps suffer from acute malnutrition.
The Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan estimates that $2.7 billion is needed in 2024 to support 14.7 million people in Sudan. However, a mere $84 million (3.1%) is currently available. Disappointingly, only 42% of the required funding was provided in 2023.
International humanitarian organizations brace for a significant rise in illnesses, deaths, and worsening malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women. They estimate that roughly five million people are on the brink of famine.
(ST)