Thousands of Children in Sudan Face Starvation, Warns UNICEF

Tens of thousands of children in Sudan are facing the threat of starvation UNICEF has once again warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. Hundreds of thousands of children are suffering from hunger due to the consequences of the civil war, with millions being displaced. Furthermore, the risk of cholera is growing.

According to UNICEF, tens of thousands of children in Sudan are at risk of dying from starvation. The UN agency has no access to many of the starving boys and girls in the conflict-ridden country, spokesperson James Elder explained in Geneva.

“The consequences of the past 300 days mean that this year, more than 700,000 children will likely suffer from the deadliest form of malnutrition,” stated Elder. UNICEF will not be able to treat more than 300,000 of them without improved access and additional support. In this case, tens of thousands will likely die.

Children are also being raped, killed, and recruited by the warring parties. Four million children fleeing violence

The ongoing clashes between the regular army and the paramilitary RSF militia since April of last year have led to the largest displacement crisis among children worldwide, said Elder. Around four million children are fleeing the violence in the African country.

More than 70 percent of health facilities in the conflict-affected areas are no longer functional. Two-thirds of the population have no access to healthcare.

Furthermore, the number of cholera cases has more than doubled in the past month. By the end of January, there were over 10,000 suspected cases and 300 cholera-related deaths. Among them, 16 percent are children under the age of five. The map shows Sudan with Khartoum.