Sudan war and climate change see parents struggle to feed their children
Summary
Sudan’s war, displacement and economic hardship are worsening child malnutrition, with health workers reporting rising admissions and crowded treatment wards. Food and disease risks are also compounded by environmental conditions, while an IPC estimate projects that 825,000 children under five will suffer severe acute malnutrition in 2026.Key Facts
- The conflict between Sudan’s armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023.
- The IPC estimates that 825,000 children under five will suffer severe acute malnutrition in 2026, 7 percent more than in 2025.
- UNICEF and its partners treated 174,700 children for severe acute malnutrition across Sudan in the first six months of 2026.
- Port Sudan Teaching Hospital recorded 433 malnutrition cases from January through August 2026.
- The hospital’s 17-bed malnutrition unit has at times placed three children in one bed, raising concerns about disease transmission.
- The hospital provides therapeutic milk and other nutrition supplies free with support from WHO and UNICEF, but families often struggle to pay for intravenous fluids and medicines.
- A hospital nutrition counsellor said flies can contaminate food and water, while mosquitoes spread malaria; malnourished children face particular risks from disease.
- Displacement and economic hardship have also limited pregnant women’s nutrition, putting babies at risk of poor growth and malnutrition.
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