Children face risk of dying in Sudan’s famine-hit Darfur as medical supplies blocked, group says

Malnourished children in Sudan’s famine-hit Zamzam camp face imminent death due to a blockade by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), The Associated Press reported yesterday citing Doctors Without Borders.

The RSF has prevented three trucks carrying essential medical supplies from reaching al-Fasher city and nearby camps, exacerbating the crisis. Since April 2023, the conflict between the RSF and the military has displaced over 10 million people, creating the world’s largest displacement crisis.

International experts confirmed that Zamzam camp, housing up to 600,000 people, is experiencing full famine, with acute malnutrition rates soaring. The malnutrition ward at the camp’s field hospital is operating at a 126% occupancy rate, and supplies are dwindling, covering only two weeks of treatment.

The UN reports that 25.6 million people in Sudan face acute hunger, with the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan only one-third funded. Calls for a cease-fire and increased humanitarian access are urgent to prevent further loss of life.