Sudan, a nation already reeling from conflict and economic collapse, is now facing a critical humanitarian emergency: a surge in malnutrition rates that ranks among the highest in the world, according to recent reports by the World Health Organization (WHO). With ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the country’s infrastructure has been decimated, healthcare systems have collapsed, and access to food and clean water has become a privilege rather than a right. The situation has deteriorated so drastically that international aid organizations warn of an imminent risk of mass starvation, especially among children and displaced populations.
The Grim Numbers
WHO’s latest data paints a bleak picture. Nearly 3 million children under the age of five are suffering from various forms of malnutrition across Sudan, with more than 610,000 of them affected by severe acute malnutrition (SAM)—a condition that can lead to death if untreated. In some regions such as Central Darfur and parts of Khartoum, acute malnutrition rates among children under five have soared to between 15% and 30%, well above the WHO’s emergency threshold of 15%.
The situation is especially dire in displacement camps, such as ZamZam and Kalma, where services are stretched thin. In ZamZam camp alone, about 30% of children are malnourished, and many of them are also battling diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. These diseases, when coupled with malnutrition, create a deadly cycle that humanitarian agencies are struggling to break.
Collapse of the Healthcare System
Sudan’s healthcare system has crumbled under the weight of the ongoing conflict. WHO estimates that more than 70% of hospitals in conflict zones are non-functional. Medical supplies are scarce, healthcare workers have fled for safety, and infrastructure has been damaged or deliberately targeted. The result is a situation where the sick and malnourished have nowhere to turn.
Clinics that are still operational often face overwhelming demand and cannot provide even basic services. Malnutrition treatment centers are understaffed and under-resourced. Children suffering from SAM are supposed to receive therapeutic food and medical care, but in many areas, these interventions are simply not available. As a result, thousands of children are dying from entirely preventable causes.
Humanitarian Blockades and Access Challenges
Delivering aid in Sudan is a logistical and political nightmare. The ongoing fighting makes it dangerous for humanitarian convoys to move freely. Checkpoints, looting, and active fighting often force the delay or redirection of aid deliveries. In December 2024, a rare successful mission saw UNICEF, WFP, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) deliver around 750 tons of food, medicine, and medical supplies to Khartoum. However, aid workers were quick to note that this was a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed.
There are also bureaucratic hurdles. Authorities aligned with the Sudanese military have imposed restrictions on aid agencies, demanding permits and imposing arbitrary regulations. These policies, either by design or neglect, obstruct the delivery of life-saving supplies and services. Aid workers have repeatedly called for a humanitarian corridor and a ceasefire to facilitate relief efforts, but these calls have largely gone unheeded.
Fading Hope: Hunger Amid Abundance
Sudan was once regarded as the “breadbasket of Africa,” boasting fertile lands and vast agricultural potential. However, war, poor governance, and environmental degradation have turned abundance into scarcity. Markets in major cities are either closed or empty. Food prices have skyrocketed, putting basic staples like sorghum, wheat, and oil out of reach for the average citizen. Livelihoods have been destroyed, agricultural cycles have been disrupted, and many farmers have fled their lands.
The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that around 25 million people in Sudan—more than half the population—now require humanitarian assistance. Among them, over 638,000 people are believed to be facing “catastrophic hunger,” the most extreme level of food insecurity.
International Response and Shortcomings
Despite the severity of the crisis, international funding for Sudan has fallen woefully short. Donor fatigue, geopolitical distractions, and restricted media coverage have contributed to the global community’s slow response. In 2024, only a fraction of the UN’s humanitarian appeal for Sudan was met. Aid agencies have warned that without urgent funding and access, the crisis could evolve into a famine of historic proportions.
The WHO, UNICEF, and other UN bodies have continued to appeal for immediate action. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the situation “a moral and humanitarian catastrophe,” emphasizing that “we are witnessing children wasting away before our eyes.” In March 2025, WHO issued a rare high-level warning that Sudan could experience mass starvation unless food aid and medical supplies are delivered immediately.
Political Stalemate and the Collapse of Coordination
A key issue exacerbating the crisis is the lack of coordination between Sudanese authorities and international agencies. In late 2024, the SAF-aligned government in Port Sudan suspended participation in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)—a system that allows aid organizations to track and respond to food insecurity. The move was widely condemned as an attempt to obscure the real scale of the crisis and avoid accountability.
In the absence of transparent reporting, it becomes harder for aid organizations to target the most vulnerable areas effectively. Advocacy groups have called on the international community to pressure Sudanese authorities to reinstate IPC cooperation and allow unhindered humanitarian access.
The Human Face of Crisis
Behind every statistic is a human story. Stories of children too weak to cry, mothers forced to feed their families with grass and roots, and doctors performing surgery without anesthesia are all too common. In the displacement camp of Gedaref, 34-year-old Aisha holds her malnourished son in her arms and pleads for milk. “He has not eaten in three days,” she says, her voice barely a whisper. “Please, save my baby.”
There are thousands like Aisha. Their resilience is remarkable, but resilience alone cannot stave off hunger. These people need urgent help—food, medicine, water, shelter, and most of all, peace.
The Path Forward
Sudan’s malnutrition crisis cannot be solved with humanitarian aid alone. Long-term solutions require political will, peace, and reconstruction. However, in the short term, the focus must be on saving lives. Immediate steps must include:
- Establishing secure humanitarian corridors for uninterrupted aid delivery.
- Rapidly scaling up funding for food, nutrition, and medical services.
- Pressuring all parties in the conflict to allow humanitarian access.
- Restoring cooperation with IPC and transparent data reporting.
Conclusion
Sudan’s malnutrition crisis is a man-made tragedy unfolding in slow motion. If the world continues to look away, hundreds of thousands of lives—many of them children—will be lost. Time is running out, but with concerted global action, this crisis can be averted. Sudan’s people are crying out for help; the world must answer.
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