825,000 Sudanese Children at Risk of Acute Malnutrition

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned of a growing risk of famine in parts of Darfur and Kordofan, after acute malnutrition rates among children exceeded the famine threshold in two displacement camps in South Darfur, while child mortality rates reached emergency levels.

The Committee said that more than three years of war, combined with drought associated with the El Niño phenomenon, had led to declining agricultural production, depleted food stocks and rising prices, while more than five million Sudanese people were facing emergency levels of hunger.

The Committee estimated that approximately 825,000 children under the age of five would suffer from severe acute malnutrition, requiring urgent treatment to prevent life-threatening consequences. It explained that the indicators recorded in two camps in South Darfur did not constitute an official declaration of famine across the entire state, but highlighted the extreme severity of the crisis.

In North Darfur, drought and delayed rainfall have further worsened conditions, while fighting and the displacement of farmers have disrupted markets and supply routes, depriving many families of farming opportunities and sources of income.

The Committee also warned that further displacement to the town of Tawila was likely. The town is hosting more than 650,000 displaced people, placing humanitarian and health facilities under pressure that exceeds their capacity.

The Committee called for an urgent increase in funding for food assistance, healthcare and nutrition programmes, as well as the protection of civilians and unimpeded humanitarian access. It stressed that the continuation of the war and declining funding could expand the scale of hunger and increase the risks facing children.