Over Half of Children Acutely Malnourished in Sudan’s North Darfur, UNICEF Survey Warns.
New York/Port Sudan:
A comprehensive nutrition survey conducted by UNICEF in Um Baru locality of Sudan’s North Darfur has revealed an unprecedented level of child malnutrition, with more than half of children under the age of five suffering from acute malnutrition. The findings point to one of the most severe nutrition crises recorded anywhere in the world.
According to UNICEF’s latest SMART nutrition survey, carried out between December 19 and 23 and covering nearly 500 children, the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate has reached a staggering 53 per cent. Of these, 18 per cent are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)—a life-threatening condition—while 35 per cent are affected by Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). These figures are more than three times higher than the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold of 15 per cent.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell described the situation as critical, warning that children’s lives are at immediate risk. “When severe acute malnutrition reaches this level, time becomes the most critical factor,” she said. “Children in Um Baru are fighting for their lives and need immediate help. Every day without safe and unhindered access increases the risk of preventable death and suffering.”
The survey also indicates that the crude mortality rate has reached emergency levels, underscoring the deadly consequences of the crisis if urgent action is not taken.
The situation has been worsened by ongoing conflict in the region. Many families in Um Baru are recently displaced, having fled intense fighting in Al Fasher in late October. As a result, a large number of children have missed routine immunizations, including measles vaccinations, leaving them highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
Escalating insecurity has severely restricted humanitarian access, delaying the delivery of life-saving assistance. Continued fighting is preventing the scale-up of urgently needed health and nutrition services, even as needs continue to rise.
North Darfur remains at the epicentre of Sudan’s child malnutrition emergency. By November this year, nearly 85,000 severely malnourished children had already been admitted for treatment across the state. While UNICEF has prepositioned essential supplies such as Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), the scale of the crisis demands comprehensive health, nutrition, water, and protection services.
UNICEF has called on all parties to the conflict to allow immediate, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can reach children and families trapped by violence. The agency also urged the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure a respected humanitarian pause, warning that without it, children will continue to pay the highest price of the conflict.
