GENEVA: The ongoing civil war in Sudan is poised to escalate into a humanitarian catastrophe, with UNICEF sounding the alarm that over 700,000 children could face severe malnutrition this year alone.
According to UNICEF spokesman James Elder, without urgent intervention, tens of thousands of children could perish due to the deadliest form of malnutrition.
The conflict, which erupted in April last year, has already claimed thousands of lives and triggered one of the world’s largest displacement crises, with nearly eight million people forced to flee their homes, half of them children.
The dire situation is exacerbated by acute food insecurity, soaring malnutrition rates, and the rampant spread of diseases like cholera, measles, and malaria. Urgent calls for a ceasefire and increased aid have been made, with the UN appealing for $4.1 billion to assist civilians in Sudan and refugees abroad, including $840 million to reach the most vulnerable children.
Despite previous appeals going unfunded, UNICEF stresses the imperative for the international community to act swiftly to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of millions in Sudan.
