Dire Crisis in Sudan: Thirteen Children Dead from Hunger and Neglect

The Sudan Doctors Network reports that thirteen children have succumbed to hunger at Lagawa camp in East Darfur, amidst worsening humanitarian conditions due to ongoing civil war. Aid agencies are calling for urgent international intervention as famine and disease threaten tens of thousands.

Thirteen children have tragically lost their lives in a displacement camp in East Darfur, Sudan, due to severe food shortages amidst a prolonged civil conflict, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. The organization's members working inside Lagawa camp reported on the dire humanitarian conditions that have deteriorated over the past 27 months of civil war, resulting in widespread malnutrition that is now affecting approximately 7,000 residents in the camp.

The humanitarian crisis has escalated since famine first emerged in Darfur last year, now spreading across the region as ongoing violence complicates relief efforts. In a plea for help, the Sudan Doctors Network urged the international community and humanitarian organizations to urgently provide food and basic healthcare, particularly to vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.

With El-Daein, the camp's location, wholly under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) engaged in fierce battles against the military, the impact on humanitarian networks has been profound. The effects of this civil war, which erupted in April 2023, have crippled not only the economy but also essential social services, leading to increasing food deprivation across the region.

In addition to hunger, aid groups are now reporting a growing risk of cholera in various areas of Darfur, particularly in Tawila, where the United Nations has recorded 1,500 suspected cases since June. The deteriorating water and sanitation services coupled with inadequate vaccination coverage, create fertile ground for outbreaks, compounding the ongoing humanitarian disaster.

As the conflict reaches unprecedented levels of violence and instability, the plight of civilians continues to worsen, with reports indicating tens of thousands killed, over twelve million displaced, and nearly a million facing the grim reality of famine. The international community is urged to take immediate action to alleviate the catastrophic conditions unfolding in Sudan.