Malnutrition Nightmare

In a projection for the year, an estimated 3.5 million children in Sudan are expected to endure acute malnutrition, with over 700,000 facing the gravest form known as Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), necessitating specialized and uninterrupted life-saving treatment, according to sources. UNICEF reports record admissions for SAM treatment in accessible areas, highlighting the severity of the situation.

The brutal conflict in Sudan, now entering its 300th day, is exacerbating widespread malnutrition, leading to what is deemed the world's largest child displacement crisis. Additionally, a devastated health system poses a severe threat, potentially claiming more lives than the conflict itself, particularly in areas unreachable due to ongoing fighting.

Internally, over 3 million children have been displaced since the conflict's onset, adding to the 2 million already displaced in previous crises, marking the highest number of internally displaced children globally. Reports indicate a potential surge in child deaths in overcrowded and unsanitary displacement sites, where the spread of disease poses lethal risks, especially for children with SAM, who are up to 10 times more vulnerable to succumbing to illnesses compared to their healthy counterparts.

A staggering 14 million children, representing half of Sudan's child population, are now in dire need of humanitarian assistance. With schools mostly closed or struggling to reopen across the nation, an alarming 19 million school-age children face the risk of losing their education.

In response to this crisis, UNICEF is appealing for US$ 840 million in 2024 to reach 9.9 million people, including 7.6 million of Sudan's most vulnerable children, with vital humanitarian aid.

 Despite the overwhelming needs, UNICEF highlights a significant shortfall, having received only 28 percent of its 2023 appeal. The situation remains critical as the international community grapples with the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

_{Source: UNICEF, relief web}