A 10-month war in Sudan has left more than 700,000 children at risk of the most fatal form of malnutrition, UNICEF said on Friday, urging for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid.
The United Nations children’s agency has alerted that the worst form of malnutrition could affect at least 700,000 children in Sudan this year, and that many of them could perish.
Sudan’s infrastructure has been ruined by a 10-month war between its armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has also caused millions of people to flee their homes within and outside the country, and raised fears of starvation.
James Elder, spokesperson for UNICEF, said at a press conference in Geneva on Friday that the past 300 days have resulted in more than 700,000 children facing the most fatal form of malnutrition this year.
“Without better access and more support, UNICEF will not be able to help more than 300,000 of those children. In that scenario, many thousands would likely die,” he said.
He explained that the most dangerous form of malnutrition is severe acute malnutrition, which increases the risk of a child dying from diseases such as cholera and malaria. He said 3.5 million children were expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition.
UNICEF supplies “ready-to-use therapeutic food”, or RUTF, a food item that saves the lives of children under five years old who have severe wasting, to Sudan.
Elder also reported a “500 percent increase” in one year in killings, sexual violence and recruitment of children to fight.
“That means horrifying numbers of children being killed, raped or recruited. And these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg,” he said, stressing the urgent need for a ceasefire and more aid.
Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, agreed with Elder’s remarks.
She warned in a statement that the “deadly mix of malnutrition, mass displacement, and disease” is rapidly growing.
“We need safe, continuous, and unrestricted humanitarian access across areas of conflict and across borders – and we need international support to help maintain the essential services and systems that children depend on for survival,” she said.
UNICEF is asking for $840m to assist more than 7.5 million children in Sudan this year, but Elder lamented the lack of funds raised in previous appeals.
“Last year, the funding UNICEF requested for almost three-quarters of children in Sudan was not received,” Elder said.
The UN on Wednesday called on countries not to neglect the civilians affected by the war in Sudan, requesting $4.1bn to meet their humanitarian needs and support those who have escaped to neighbouring countries.
According to the UN, half of Sudan’s population – about 25 million people – require humanitarian assistance and protection, while more than 1.5 million people have fled to the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
“The world needs to stop ignoring this,” he said. “Where is our shared humanity if we let this situation go on.”
