UN reports one in two children in Darfur region are malnourished

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UNICEF Reports High Levels of Child Malnutrition in North Darfur

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a warning regarding the high levels of malnutrition among children in the war-torn region of North Darfur. According to UNICEF, 53% of 500 children screened in the Um Baru locality were found to be acutely malnourished, with one in six suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

The warning comes as fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues in the region. The conflict, which began in 2023, has resulted in significant displacement, with over 12 million people affected. The UN has described the situation as a “world’s worst humanitarian crisis”.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated that children in Um Baru are fighting for their lives and require immediate assistance. She noted that every day without access to safe and unhindered aid increases the risk of children growing weaker and more susceptible to preventable causes of death.

The conflict has led to widespread displacement, with over 100,000 people estimated to have fled el-Fasher in late October following the escalation of fighting in the city. Many of those who fled reported experiencing mass atrocities, including killings, sexual assault, and detentions by RSF troops.

A UN humanitarian team was recently allowed access to the RSF-controlled city for the first time in two years. The team found that the city was largely deserted, with few people seen living in empty buildings or rudimentary camps using basic plastic sheets.

The RSF continues to push east into the Kordofan region, maintaining sieges on cities such as Kadugli and Dilling. This has further worsened the hunger crisis in these areas. UN officials have reported that fighting has intensified amid the dry season, with civilians enduring immense suffering with no end in sight.

The situation remains dire, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling for an immediate ceasefire and Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris presenting a peace plan to the UN Security Council. However, the RSF has rejected the plan as “wishful thinking”.

Source: Al Jazeera