Dozens of children who have fled Sudan due to ongoing conflict are now facing a severe malnutrition crisis in refugee camps within Chad. The dire situation has prompted urgent calls for medical assistance and resources to address the growing health crisis.
In the Chadian town of Adre, a refugee camp has become the temporary home for many Sudanese families who escaped their war-torn country. Outside one of the camp’s field hospitals, anxious mothers hold their sick children, patiently waiting for medical aid.
Amna Mousa, who fled Sudan in June and sought refuge in Chad, shared her distressing experience. “I was sick and pregnant. My daughter was suffering from diarrhea and vomiting,” she revealed. Unfortunately, the lack of medications in the camp has made it difficult to provide necessary treatment for the sick children.
This harrowing reality is not limited to Adre alone. Save the Children recently reported that approximately 500 children in Sudan have died from hunger, including two dozen infants in a government-run orphanage in Khartoum, the capital. The organization also highlighted that at least 31,000 children remain without access to essential malnutrition treatment and related healthcare services due to the closure of 57 nutrition centers.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in April, following long-standing tensions between the military, led by Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The situation quickly escalated, resulting in widespread fighting in Khartoum and other regions.
As a consequence, over 3.4 million people were internally displaced within Sudan, seeking refuge in safer areas, while more than a million crossed into neighboring countries such as Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic. Since the conflict began, over 414,000 refugees have fled to Chad, with a recent surge due to intensified fighting in Darfur.
Khartoum and other urban areas have turned into battlefields, exacerbating the already dire living conditions. A lack of access to basic amenities such as water and electricity has become a grim reality for many residents. Additionally, Sudan’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, unable to meet the mounting needs of the population.
Among the hardest-hit regions is Darfur, where violence has reached catastrophic levels. Ethnic clashes have consumed the area, with the RSF and allied Arab militia targeting ethnic African communities. This situation has further contributed to the displacement of thousands of innocent civilians, pushing them to seek refuge outside Sudan’s borders.
The malnutrition crisis facing Sudanese child refugees in Chad is a pressing humanitarian concern that requires immediate attention. Aid organizations and governments are being urged to provide urgent medical assistance, medications, and resources to address the escalating health crisis. Without swift intervention, the lives and wellbeing of countless vulnerable children hang in the balance, underscoring the urgent need for global support and intervention to alleviate their suffering.
