Every day of the war worsens the conditions for Sudanese children due to displacement, increasing violations, and killings. Epidemics and diseases add to the tragedy in various cities and regions across the country amidst a severe medicine shortage and a health care crisis caused by more than 70% of hospitals being out of service.
As a result, malnutrition has claimed the lives of thousands of youth in several cities. Additionally, young girls face sexual violence, rape, and early or forced marriage.
Malnutrition Cases
In this regard, Sudan’s Minister of Health, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, stated that “the rate of acute malnutrition among children has reached 15%, while a rate of 6% already requires hospital admission for treatment.”
He noted that “the increase in malnutrition cases is not only due to hunger, but also due to childhood illnesses, lack of access to clean water, and poor nutrition. In areas where malnutrition is prevalent, children lack vaccination, food, and healthcare services.”
Ibrahim announced that the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with UN agencies, is implementing a plan to address malnutrition at a cost of $471 million, confirming the existence of 2,249 therapeutic and medical nutrition centers.
Famine and Deaths
Regarding the causes of widespread malnutrition, pediatrician Dr. Sami Fadl told Mashawir that “the lack of hospitals and health centers providing comprehensive care starting from pregnant women through to maternal and child care in conflict zones has contributed to the rise in cases and deaths. If the war continues, the humanitarian situation will deteriorate into a catastrophe.”
He pointed out that “child deaths have occurred in displacement shelters far from healthcare facilities due to the spread of deadly diseases and epidemics, as well as a shortage of life-saving medications.”
He continued, “Some areas are experiencing their worst humanitarian conditions in terms of hunger, disease, and death, in addition to the collapse of the health sector and the shutdown of hospitals due to mutual shelling between the warring parties and the targeting of medical personnel.”
Poverty and Psychological Trauma
For his part, the Secretary-General of Sudan’s National Council for Childhood, Abdelkader Al-Amin Abu, said that “a significant percentage of children — up to 87% — are living below the poverty line and have not received humanitarian assistance during the war from the United Nations or its specialized agencies.”
He added that “the 30 children handed over by the Sudanese army to the Red Cross were examined, and 13 of them were found to be suffering from malnutrition and severe dehydration and had experienced psychological trauma. They were transferred to Kassala State and are now receiving special care.”
Abu pledged the Council’s continued efforts to address the issue of parentless children and to exert every effort to provide support for this vulnerable group.
Shocking Statistics
Furthermore, UNICEF announced that “since the ongoing war in Sudan began two years ago, the number of grave violations against children’s rights has increased by 1,000%,” urging the world not to abandon millions of affected children.
In its statement, UNICEF highlighted the grave violations of children’s rights, including killings, maiming, abductions, forced recruitment, and sexual violence, noting that such violations “have increased by 1,000% over the past two years” and have spread across the entire country.
It also reported that “the number of children killed or injured in Sudan rose from 150 confirmed cases in 2022 to about 2,776 cases in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, attacks on schools and hospitals increased from 33 verified cases in 2022 to 181 cases over the past two years.”
