MSF warns of "catastrophic malnutrition" crisis in north Darfur

People use barrels mounted on donkey-pulled carts to transport water in the southern Sudanese city of Gedaref on April 21, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

ALBAWABA – In its latest report regarding the deteriorating situation in El Fasher, North Darfur, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has raised the alarm for the growing acute malnutrition crisis in Zamzam camp, where the situation is becoming even more critical.

The medical care charity reported that more than 100 people have been treated for war wounds, including at least 11 children at South Hospital, El Fasher in North Darfur.

The MSF called on warring parties to “ensure the protection of civilians, healthcare structures, and staff so that vital assistance for the tens of thousands of people whose lives are at-risk can be effectively provided before it is too late”.

Earlier in January, the MSF conducted a rapid nutrition and mortality assessment, which was followed by a mass screening of more than 63 thousand children as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, which resulted in confirming that they continue to face acute and life-threatening malnutrition under the current brutal war.

Of the more than 46,000 children evaluated, 30% were found to have acute malnutrition, with 8% having severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Similar findings were discovered among the more than 16,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women who were screened: 33% were critically malnourished, with 10% having SAM. Both groups’ statistics are double the emergency threshold of 15%, suggesting a severe, life-threatening emergency in the Zamzam camp.

MSF’s head of emergency response, Claire Nicolet, stated “The situation is critical, the level of suffering is immense, but despite this being known about for nearly three months, nowhere near enough has been done to help those who are struggling to survive,”.

Throughout the report, Nicolet assured that the MSF teams are working around the clock to provide all the possible humanitarian and medical aid, however with the escalating situation, it will become more and more difficult to receive proper international support.

“And, with the lean season approaching, we are also worried that there is going to be a rapid deterioration in this already drastic malnutrition crisis over the coming weeks,” Nicolet stated.

In the report, the MSF accused the UN of doing far too little to prevent the malnutrition crisis in Zamzam camp from deteriorating even further despite the constant famine coming from UN agencies.

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