Sudan: A dire malnutrition crisis threatens lives in South Darfur

A nutrition response under pressure

In December, Doctors Without Borders began distributing food parcels to families of children and families of pregnant and breastfeeding women enrolled in our malnutrition treatment programmes. The aim was to offer some short-term relief to those facing the harshest consequences of food insecurity, particularly as the economic situation continues to deteriorate. 

In South Darfur, communities have been exposed to extreme levels of violence. Many have been displaced—with women in particular often left to care for large families on their own, cut off from income and support networks. With few options available, people struggle to meet their most basic needs.

"In order to reduce instances where the child's therapeutic food is divided amongst the hungry relatives, we provide a family ration for a duration of two months,” says Hunter McGovern, Doctors Without Borders' Targeted Food Distribution Project Coordinator in South Darfur. 

“This allows the child to receive the full course of their nutrition therapy while increasing the nutritional situation of the whole family. Even with this activity in progress, the needs remain overwhelming," McGovern continued.

Doctors Without Borders' response provides food rations amounting to 2,000 calories per day per person for families, at an average of five persons per family, to cover a period of two months. This programme helps give the whole family the food they need, which in turn supports the treatment of malnourished children towards a healthy weight. 

"During our distributions, we found that the average family size is much larger than what we had initially planned for—sometimes as many as ten people per household. This underscores just how critical the food shortage is and how much more assistance is required to meet the real needs of the population," McGovern said. People travel when they hear a relatives' family has received food assistance, underscoring the critical nutrition shortage on ground.

The need for a stronger humanitarian response

Doctors Without Borders remains committed to addressing the urgent nutritional needs of populations affected by the conflict in South Darfur. The scale of the crisis far exceeds the capacities of the limited numbers of organizations responding to the malnutrition crisis. 

We are fast approaching the rainy season and the hunger gap, the time of the year when it is most difficult for people in South Darfur to access food and when it is most difficult for humanitarian supplies to reach the state. Supplies for the treatment of malnutrition, and for food distribution programmes, have to be pre-positioned now before communities are cut off. Local responders need funding and support to continue and expand food distribution programmes for their communities. Running food distributions and expanding inpatient and outpatient therapeutic feeding programmes in South Darfur is challenging but possible - and can help prevent needless suffering and mortality.

With food security deteriorating and malnutrition rates rising, urgent action is needed to scale up humanitarian assistance and ensure that children and families receive the support they desperately need. Without a concerted effort, the crisis will only deepen, putting countless lives at risk.