UNICEF: Sudan's children face dire threats amid conflict

CAIRO - 5 June 2024: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that hundreds of thousands of civilians in El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan, are facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation, with many parts of the city lacking electricity or water. The growing percentage of the population has limited access to essential necessities and services, including food and healthcare.

The UN report highlights alarming reports indicating that medical facilities, IDP camps, and critical civilian infrastructure have been affected by ongoing hostilities. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that nearly 58,000 people have been displaced from El Fasher since April 1, with many, including children and the elderly, unable or prevented from moving to safer areas.

Three UN agencies—UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO)—issued a stark warning, indicating a significant deterioration in the nutritional status of children and mothers in war-torn Sudan.

The analysis by UNICEF, WFP, and WHO highlights that ongoing hostilities are exacerbating factors leading to child malnutrition. These factors include limited access to nutritious food, safe drinking water, sanitation services, and increased risk of diseases. The situation is further worsened by the mass displacement of people fleeing the conflict.

Sudan faces an increasing risk of famine due to the conflict, which could have catastrophic consequences, including loss of life, especially among young children. The year-long war has severely impacted the delivery of humanitarian supplies, leaving countless women and children without access to vital food and nutritional support.

Humanitarian agencies struggle to deliver food products amid rising violence and bureaucratic obstacles hindering access to conflict-affected areas. The analysis indicates that child malnutrition in Sudan has reached emergency levels. In Central Darfur, acute malnutrition rates are estimated at 15.6% among children under five, while the rate in Zamzam camp nears 30%. The situation has deteriorated over recent months with no signs of improvement due to ongoing conflict and severe hindrance to humanitarian aid access.

Acute malnutrition poses a life-threatening risk, as malnourished children are up to 11 times more likely to die compared to well-nourished children. Malnutrition and illness reinforce each other, with sick children more likely to become malnourished and vice versa, leading to worse outcomes.

Even when children recover, malnutrition can have lifelong impacts on physical and cognitive development. Sudan risks losing a generation, with severe implications for the country's future.

Malnutrition levels are particularly concerning among pregnant and nursing mothers. For example, a recent MSF screening in Zamzam camp, North Darfur, found that over 33% of pregnant and nursing women were malnourished, indicating that they might be sacrificing their own needs to feed their children.

This situation poses incredible risks not only to the health of the mothers but also to the next generation of Sudanese children. Up to 30% of childhood malnutrition cases begin in the womb, making children born to malnourished mothers likely to be malnourished themselves.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated, "Children in Sudan are experiencing horrific violence, displacement, and trauma, and now face potential famine. Severe forms of malnutrition harm children's physical and cognitive development and can have lifelong consequences. Conflict parties must urgently allow humanitarian access so children can receive food, water, medical care, and shelter. Above all, children need peace."

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain added, "Women and children across Sudan are withering away from malnutrition, stripped of everything they need to survive: food, medical support, and shelter by the ongoing war. We need safe and immediate access to provide the humanitarian assistance they urgently need. Without this aid, this crisis risks becoming the world's largest hunger emergency.

Millions of lives are at extreme risk, and the international community must act now or risk losing an entire generation of children."

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom emphasized, "Malnutrition is not a one-time crisis; it affects children's development and health for life, and increases the likelihood of death from infectious diseases. Sudan's children and women are on the brink of famine. WHO and its partners are on the ground to prevent and treat severe malnutrition to save these precious lives, but we need continuous humanitarian access and full financial support to do so."

The report acknowledges data gaps due to limited access to conflict hotspots, yet the mentioned agencies expressed grave concern that the situation is critically severe and continues to deteriorate. Data gaps themselves indicate a lack of critical humanitarian access in the hardest-hit areas. All options must be utilized to reach these most needy populations.

The situation for children and women in Sudan is expected to worsen in the coming months as the rainy season begins in June, isolating communities and increasing disease rates. Sudan is also entering a lean season between harvests when food availability typically decreases. This year's agricultural production is reportedly below average due to displacement and insecurity.

The three agencies called for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to the hardest-hit communities through all possible crossing points and routes from neighboring countries, in addition to calming the situation in El Fasher and achieving a national ceasefire. Continued and increased support from donors is crucial. The window to avoid the worst-case scenario is rapidly closing.