Malnutrition Crisis Hits Children Fleeing Sudan for South Sudan
Disturbing Statistics:
One out of every five children arriving in South Sudan from Sudan is malnourished, and over 90% of these newcomers haven’t had a meal in days, warns the U.N. food agency, the World Food Program (WFP). The situation is dire.
Mass Migration Unfolds:
Over the past five months, nearly 300,000 people have made their way to South Sudan, primarily South Sudanese escaping the turmoil that has gripped their homeland since 2013. Civil war has driven thousands to seek refuge in neighboring countries, including Sudan.
A Glimpse of Desperation:
Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP’s country director in South Sudan, paints a grim picture: “We are seeing families leave one disaster for another as they flee danger in Sudan only to find despair in South Sudan.”
Sudan’s Turmoil Continues:
Sudan has been in turmoil since mid-April when long-standing tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Force paramilitary (RSF), commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, erupted into open warfare.
Urgent Plea for Funds:
WFP urgently appeals for more than $120 million in additional funding to address the growing humanitarian crisis at the border.
Floods and Disease Worsen Conditions:
The onset of the rainy season has brought flooding, further exacerbating the dire situation and spreading diseases among the displaced.
Increasing Vulnerability:
The statement from WFP reveals a grim reality: “Those arriving today are in an even more vulnerable condition than families that fled in the early weeks of the conflict.”
High Human Cost:
The United Nations estimates that since mid-April, the conflict in Sudan has claimed 5,000 lives and left over 12,000 wounded.
A Nation in Need:
More than 5.2 million people have been displaced from their homes, with over 1 million seeking refuge in Sudan’s neighboring countries. Half of Sudan’s population, around 25 million people, requires humanitarian assistance, including 6.3 million who are perilously close to famine, according to U.N. humanitarian officials.
The situation remains critical as the world watches, hoping for a swift resolution to the crises plaguing both Sudan and South Sudan.