The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has devastated civilian infrastructure, disrupted basic services, and triggered one of the world’s largest displacement crises. In North Darfur, one of the regions worst affected by the fighting, a recent nutrition survey in Um Baru locality found that over half of children under five are acutely malnourished. These rates, among the highest ever recorded in a standardized emergency assessment, highlight the immediate risk of death from preventable causes if humanitarian aid does not reach affected children.
The survey, which screened nearly 500 children, recorded acute malnutrition at 53 percent, more than three times the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold. Severe acute malnutrition affected 18 percent of children, a life-threatening condition that can be fatal within weeks if untreated. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that children in Um Baru are fighting for their lives and require immediate assistance.
The displacement crisis has been exacerbated by the fall of El Fasher, North Darfur’s state capital, after more than 500 days under siege. Many families sheltering in Um Baru are newly displaced, having fled El Fasher and surrounding areas since October. Children among the displaced have missed routine immunizations, increasing vulnerability to disease. The survey also highlighted emergency-level crude mortality rates, reflecting the deadly combination of hunger, illness, and lack of essential services. While some life-saving supplies, including ready-to-use therapeutic food, have been pre-positioned, UNICEF stresses that comprehensive health and nutrition interventions are urgently needed.
Humanitarian access remains a critical barrier. On 26 December, a UN team conducted its first security assessment inside El Fasher since the siege began, reporting severe shortages of basic supplies and services. Humanitarian convoys have been blocked from entering the city for months, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee while those remaining endure extreme deprivation.
Displacement beyond Sudan’s borders is also accelerating. According to UNHCR, nearly 19,400 Sudanese refugees have crossed into eastern Chad since attacks around El Fasher escalated in late October. Women and children make up 87 percent of new arrivals, many arriving exhausted and traumatized after fleeing violence, sexual abuse, and extortion. Among these arrivals, over 2,700 are unaccompanied or separated children, and more than 1,100 are people with disabilities. Despite movement restrictions and security challenges, an average of about 250 refugees per day has crossed into Chad, with UNHCR warning that cross-border flows are likely to continue as fighting, economic collapse, and protection risks intensify. A recent security incident at the Tiné border crossing, involving a Sudanese army drone strike on Chadian troops, briefly halted humanitarian operations, underscoring the volatile conditions under which aid is delivered.
