Children in Sudan have been reduced to skeletal frames, according to UNICEF.
The humanitarian crisis for children in Jebel Aulia, Sudan, has escalated to a catastrophic level, marked by widespread malnutrition, limited access to clean water, food, healthcare, and education, and the rapid spread of diseases like cholera and threats from violence.
According to recent reports, nearly 37% of the malnutrition burden in Khartoum State is concentrated in Jebel Aulia and the nearby Khartoum locality, with many children described as "reduced to just skin and bones" due to extreme hunger. Access to clean water is very limited, and cholera is spreading rapidly in overcrowded neighbourhoods, further exacerbating the health risks.
The few functioning health and nutrition centers are struggling to meet the immense demand, while many families live in cramped, damaged, or unfinished buildings. Food supplies are critically insufficient, and mothers are often displaced, walking for days in search of safety and aid. Education access is severely disrupted, with children having "barely any access to school."
The situation is worsened by ongoing violence and worsening access routes due to seasonal rains that make roads muddy and often impassable, complicating aid delivery. Despite efforts by UNICEF and partners to provide healthcare, improve water systems, and create safe spaces for children, the scale of the crisis exceeds current humanitarian capacity, with funding cuts impacting aid operations.
UNICEF Representative Sheldon Yett visited Jezira and Khartoum states in Sudan last week, observing destroyed homes, buildings, and UNICEF's warehouse in Khartoum, with relief supplies destroyed. Displaced mothers in Sudan have reported their children experiencing fear and invisible wounds as a result of the war.
Families are on the run and seeking refuge in overcrowded communities, and the current humanitarian crisis in Sudan is the largest worldwide, impacting children and families. UNICEF continues to provide assistance but cannot tackle the challenge alone. Secure and sustained access is needed, particularly in areas near the front like Al-Fashir, Dilling, and Kadugli, which are currently cut off from aid deliveries.
UNICEF urgently appeals for financial support to expand aid efforts in Sudan. You can donate at https://www.unicef.org/sudan/donate. UNICEF continues to advocate for sustainable diplomatic efforts towards peace in Sudan to ensure a brighter future for its children. Every day without access to these areas threatens the survival of the children in Jebel Aulia, making this one of the world’s most severe child humanitarian emergencies.
The escalating crisis in Jebel Aulia, Sudan, is not limited to health-and-wellness concerns, as threats from war-and-conflicts and political instability also pose significant risks to the affected children. The ongoing violence and disrupted access routes have exacerbated the already dire situation, hindering the delivery of aid and relief supplies. Despite UNICEF's constant efforts, the general-news headlines regarding the crisis in Sudan portray an urgent need for more resources and sustainable diplomatic efforts to bring peace, ensuring a brighter future for the children of Jebel Aulia.
