Health

Sudan: 3.2M Children Under 5 Face Acute Malnutrition in 2025

MAY 12 2025·Updated MAY 13 2025

Story

Above: Sudanese families who have fled from the war in Sudan carry their belongings while arriving at a Transit Centre for refugees in Renk, on Feb. 14, 2024. Image credit: LUIS TATO/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

According to UNICEF, grave violations against children in Sudan have increased by 1,000% over the past two years, with incidents including killings, maiming, abduction, recruitment by armed groups, and attacks on schools now reported across more than half of Sudan's 18 states.
Sudan Tribune
Arab News
More than 105,000 children received treatment for severe acute malnutrition in the first three months of 2025, with projections indicating the number could rise to 462,000 between May and October, while a total of 3.2 million children under five are expected to face acute malnutrition this year.
The Hindu
Sudan Tribune
The ongoing conflict has created the world's largest child displacement crisis, with over 15 million children requiring humanitarian assistance and more than 7 million displaced, often multiple times, while schools have been converted into shelters or battlegrounds.
UNICEF Sudan
The IRC
In Central Darfur, acute malnutrition is estimated at 15.6% among children under five, while in ZamZam, camp it approaches 30%, with malnourished children being 11 times more likely to die than well-nourished children.
Unicef
ReliefWeb
UNICEF documented 221 cases of rape against children since the start of 2024, including four one-year-old infants, adding the actual number could be much higher.
UNICEF USA
BBC News
The humanitarian crisis extends beyond Sudan's borders, with 1.8 million people seeking refuge in neighboring countries, including 592,000 in Chad alone, where 88% of recent arrivals are women and children.
Aa
The Eastleigh Voice News
Plan International Australia

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The humanitarian response in Sudan faces insurmountable challenges due to bureaucratic impediments and security concerns. Aid trucks remain stranded at the borders, waiting for permission, while food distributions are postponed due to denied travel permits. The upcoming rainy season will likely make roads impassable, severely hampering aid delivery and potentially leading to catastrophic consequences for millions of vulnerable children.

Doctors Without Borders

Narrative B

Despite operational challenges, humanitarian organizations continue to make progress in providing essential services. Safe water systems are being restored in states like Gedaref, malnourished children are receiving therapeutic foods in hard-to-reach areas, and over 200,000 displaced children have received school supplies and access to learning spaces — demonstrating that aid delivery is possible with proper support and access.