Children are particularly vulnerable as fighting intensifies across the country.
According to Save the Children, the number of violent incidents has surged by 33% in the past four weeks, marking the highest level of violence since February. This trend is particularly evident in Khartoum and North Darfur, where over 1.6 million people have been displaced, including more than 850,000 children.
Khartoum has witnessed a significant increase in artillery shelling, with August recording the highest number of incidents since January. The city has experienced over 110 distinct shelling events in just one month.
The impact of the conflict on children is devastating. Schools, hospitals, and malnutrition treatment centers have been damaged or destroyed, while children have been injured, abducted, and displaced. In Zamzam displacement camp, malnutrition rates have skyrocketed, with 34% of children now malnourished, including 10% who are severely malnourished.
Save the Children and other international NGOs have issued a joint statement calling for increased international pressure on the conflict parties. The statement urges the international community to facilitate humanitarian access, protect civilians, and increase funding to support communities affected by the crisis.
The conflict in Sudan has had a catastrophic impact on the population. Over 10 million people have been displaced, making it the world’s largest internal displacement crisis. More than 20,000 people, including children, have been killed, and millions are struggling with food insecurity.
Mohamed Abdiladif, Interim Country Director for Save the Children in Sudan, emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian assistance: “We are horrified that regions like Darfur and Khartoum, once the breadbasket of the country, have been turned into battlefields. Millions of people are on the brink of famine. We need unrestricted access to save lives.”
Save the Children is providing essential support to children and families in Sudan, including healthcare, nutrition, education, child protection, and cash assistance. However, the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis require a massive international effort to address the needs of millions of vulnerable people.
ABJ/APA