Children in Sudan Face Catastrophic Crisis as Cholera Spreads Amidst War

PORT SUDAN, SUDAN – Two years into a brutal conflict, a new humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding for children in Sudan, as a deadly cholera outbreak rips through communities already devastated by malnutrition and mass displacement. A recent UNICEF report and other aid organization findings paint a grim picture, with millions of children facing a “perfect storm” of threats that could lead to preventable deaths on a massive scale.

A Looming Catastrophe for Children

According to a UNICEF press release from August 5, the crisis has reached a new peak with a cholera outbreak spreading rapidly in North Darfur state. The town of Tawila, which has absorbed over 500,000 internally displaced people, has become a hotspot, reporting more than 1,180 cases—including an estimated 300 in children—and at least 20 deaths. This outbreak is unfolding against a backdrop of a profound hunger crisis, with the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in North Darfur doubling in the past year.

• A “Lethal Combination”: UNICEF warns that this combination is particularly lethal. Children whose bodies are weakened by hunger are far more susceptible to contracting cholera and are more likely to die from it. The agency’s representative in Sudan, Sheldon Yett, stated that “children are reduced to just skin and bones” in some areas and are “dying from hunger, disease, and direct violence.”
• The World’s Largest Child Displacement Crisis: The ongoing war has made Sudan the world’s largest child displacement crisis, with an estimated 5 million children having fled their homes since April 2023. This is more than half of all internally displaced persons and refugees from the country. These children often live in overcrowded camps with limited access to clean water, food, and sanitation, creating ideal conditions for diseases like cholera to spread.

The Staggering Scale of Need

The humanitarian need is staggering and continues to grow. Over 15 million children—more than half of the total number of people in need of assistance—require humanitarian aid. The conflict has not only led to a surge in malnutrition and disease but has also devastated critical infrastructure.

• Healthcare in Ruins: Hospitals have been bombed and health facilities have been forced to shut down, leaving millions without access to care. In Khartoum, continuous attacks on power plants have disrupted water supplies, forcing families to rely on unsafe, contaminated sources.
• Education Under Attack: The crisis extends to education, with over 17 million children out of school. Schools have been converted into shelters for displaced people or have been attacked, putting the future of an entire generation at risk. The psychological toll is immense, with one mother sharing that her daughter has “fallen into a state of silence” from fear.

A Call for Unimpeded Access and Funding

Despite the overwhelming need, humanitarian access remains severely constrained. Aid convoys have been looted or attacked, and bureaucratic delays have hampered the delivery of lifesaving supplies like vaccines, therapeutic food, and medical kits. Recent funding cuts have forced many aid partners to scale back their operations.

UNICEF is urgently appealing to all parties to ensure safe, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access to all parts of the country, especially frontlines and areas cut off from aid such as Al Fasher, Dilling, and Kadugli. The agency is working with partners to address the outbreak on all fronts, delivering clean water, hygiene supplies, and preparing to distribute over 1.4 million oral cholera vaccine doses.

The situation is a clear call to action for the international community. Without a coordinated and immediate response, the consequences for Sudan’s children will be irreversible.

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