Malnutrition crisis deepening for children of Sudan because of the raging war

In the five states that form darfur, UNICEF Data reveals a 46 percent increase In the number of children treated for Sam from January to May 2025 compared to the same period last year.

The acute malnutrition level has exceeded the emergency level determined by the World Health Organization (WHO) In 9 of 13 regions throughout the darfur.

In North Darfur alone, more than 40,000 children were treated for SAM treatment in the first five months of this year – double the number of the same period last year.

Surrounded and starved

This malnutrition surge appeared amid intensifying conflicts in North Darfur since April. The entire environment has been surrounded, a hospital targeted by air strikes, the roads are considered unbrogged while the convoy of assistance has faced looting and violence attacks.

This situation is very large in El Fasher, where access to humanity is almost completely cut off since the RSF militia surrounded the city – the last held by government forces in the region – and cut assistance in April 2023.

UNICEF managed to send a number of supplies to El Fasher earlier this year, but efforts to send additional assistance have been blocked.

“Children in Darfur starve by conflict and cut off from help that can save them“Sheldon Yett said, Unicef representative for Sudan.” This is a moment of truth; Children’s lives depend on whether the world chooses to act or look away. “

The crisis has triggered mass transfer in the area: In April, nearly 400,000 people fled from the Zamzam camp near El Fasher. Many run up to 70 kilometers to reach tawila, where more than 500,000 refugees survive with a little access to food, water, or adequate shelter.

National crisis

Sam is the most deadly form of malnutrition, and children suffering are very vulnerable to life-threatening complications and face the risk of high death without proper care.

And the crisis is not limited to darfur countries – sam revenue rises more than 70 percent in northern cordofan, 174 percent in the state of Khartoum and surprising 683 percent in the state of Al Peninsula.

However, the report noted that the increase in revenue in Al Peninsula and Khartoum was partly caused by increasing security and access to humanity, allowing more families to reach the health center.

The combination of crisis is the Lean Sudan season – a period of scarcity of food between harvests – which quickly increases the risk of mass death, especially in areas that are close to the threshold of hunger.

Cholera outbreaks, measles cases and collapsed health services further aggravate the crisis, placing children who are vulnerable to greater risk.

UNICEF Response

UNICEF and his partners saved lives by caring for injured and malnutrition wells, drilling wells and distributing food. But regardless of their best efforts, violence encourages needs faster than that can be met.

UNICEF calls on all parties to enable access to humanity without obstacles to the affected population and urges new diplomatic pressure on all sides to stop hostility.

This agency is also attractive to the international community for more funds to save lives. An additional $ 200 million this year is needed to maintain and expand important nutritional services, including treatment for acute nutritional deficiencies.