Save the Children issued a dire warning on Wednesday, stating that without urgent intervention, approximately 230,000 children and new mothers in war-stricken Sudan face the imminent threat of starvation,Daily Trust reports.
The ongoing conflict between two rival generals in the northeast African country has resulted in widespread devastation, with thousands killed and eight million people displaced over the course of nearly 11 months, as reported by the United Nations.
According to Arif Noor, Save the Children’s country director in Sudan, the relentless bombing campaigns and destruction of essential infrastructure have plunged Sudan into one of the most severe nutrition crises globally.
ALSO READ: N100m Suit: JAMB Warns Parents Against Enrolling Minors For UTME
Save the Children estimates that nearly 230,000 vulnerable individuals, including children, pregnant women, and new mothers, are at risk of succumbing to starvation in the coming months.
Furthermore, the organization revealed that over 2.9 million children in Sudan suffer from acute malnutrition, with an additional 729,000 children under five experiencing severe acute malnutrition, the most severe form of hunger.
Highlighting the dire funding situation, Save the Children cautioned that current levels of aid, covering only 5.5 percent of Sudan’s total needs, are insufficient to address the crisis effectively. Without adequate support, approximately 222,000 severely malnourished children and over 7,000 new mothers are likely to perish.
The United Nations World Food Programme echoed these concerns, warning that the conflict could trigger the world’s largest hunger crisis if not addressed urgently.
Arif Noor emphasized the worsening situation, attributing it to the repercussions of ongoing fighting disrupting agricultural activities. The cycle of hunger, he noted, is intensifying, with no relief in sight.
According to the United Nations, more than half of Sudan’s population, including 14 million children, are reliant on humanitarian aid for survival. Reports from the UN have highlighted a climate of fear and violence, including the use of heavy weaponry in urban areas, sexual violence, and the deliberate targeting of hospitals and schools.
Both sides of the conflict have been accused of war crimes, with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) facing allegations of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The situation has been described as a “living nightmare” by the UN’s human rights chief, with the conflict slipping into global oblivion despite ongoing atrocities and human suffering.
