International Rescue Committee: 34% of Children in Mellit Suffer from Severe Malnutrition

A survey conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has revealed that the number of children under five suffering from severe malnutrition in Mellit, North Darfur State, has risen to 34%.

In a statement issued Saturday, the IRC said the survey in Mellit showed that 34.2% of children are suffering from severe malnutrition, meaning thousands of children under five are at risk of serious illness or death.

The survey also found that 41.8% of children were underweight, while the disease prevalence rate stood at 45.1%, indicating that nearly half of the surveyed children had been sick in the two weeks prior to the assessment.

“Without urgent action, we risk losing an entire generation of Sudanese children to premature death or long-term health consequences such as stunting, impaired cognitive development, and weakened immunity,” the IRC warned.

The organization supports eight health facilities in Mellit Locality, providing health, nutrition, and sanitation services, and operates a total of 37 health facilities across Sudan.