UN Warns of Imminent Risk of Death for Thousands of Children in Sudan’s al-Fashir

According to United Nations agencies, thousands of children are at imminent risk of death as malnutrition rates surge in the besieged city of al-Fashir in Sudan’s Darfur region. More than 250,000 civilians — nearly half of them children — have been cut off from food and healthcare amid a 16-month-long standoff, the agencies reported.

Key Highlights:

• Crisis Epicentre: Al-Fashir, the Sudanese army’s last stronghold in Darfur, has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the civil war erupted in April 2023.
• Humanitarian Blockade: The city’s population remains isolated, with severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies.
• UN Agencies’ Assessment: Representatives from the IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP) reported widespread devastation during recent visits to Darfur and other conflict-hit regions.
• Nationwide Emergency: The agencies warned that malnutrition rates are soaring across Sudan, threatening millions as the conflict continues to cripple humanitarian access.
• Urgent Appeal: The UN agencies have called for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to deliver food, medical care, and protection to those trapped in al-Fashir and other affected areas.