The Sudanese government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have warned of a deepening child malnutrition crisis in Sudan as the war enters its fourth year. They stressed that the expanding conflict and the collapse of access to food and healthcare services are pushing millions of children into life-threatening conditions, while humanitarian funding continues to fall far short of growing needs.
Speaking to Al Jazeera from Washington, Sudan’s Minister of Health, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, said that child malnutrition has become one of the most serious health consequences of the conflict, which has continued for more than three years.
He noted that the impact of the war on the healthcare system varies across the country. While the northern and eastern states have experienced a relative degree of stability, they are under increasing pressure from hosting large numbers of internally displaced people. In contrast, the Darfur and Kordofan regions continue to face severe humanitarian and health challenges due to ongoing fighting.
Meanwhile, Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative in Sudan, told Al Jazeera that child malnutrition rates have risen significantly since the outbreak of the war.
He emphasized that the current crisis is not primarily the result of drought or climate change, but rather a direct consequence of the continuing conflict, which has led to the collapse of markets, disruption of supply chains, and the inability of many families to access sufficient food.
