Around 1,200 children have died from measles and malnutrition in nine refugee camps in Sudan since May, and tens of thousands more could die before the end of the year, the UN reported on Tuesday.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 1,200 children under the age of 5 died from measles and malnutrition in nine refugee camps in White Nile State between May 15 and 14. of September.
These children are refugees from Ethiopia and South Sudan, Allen Maina, UNHCR’s director of public health, said at a news conference in Geneva.
According to the UN agency, more than 3,100 suspected cases of measles and more than 500 suspected cases of cholera were also recorded in other parts of the country during the same period, as well as epidemics of dengue and malaria.
“The world has the means and the money to prevent each and every one of these deaths from measles or malnutrition,” said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, in a statement.
The official stated that more deaths can be “avoided,” but he asked for “money (…), access to those who need it and, above all, an end to the fighting” because “dozens of children die every day as a result of this devastating conflict and the lack of attention from the international community.
“Due to continued attacks on health and nutrition services” in Sudan, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also expressed fears that “several thousand newborns could die before the end of the year,” at the same press conference in Geneva.
According to the UN agency, nutrition services are “devastated” in the country, where a bloody conflict between rival generals broke out in April.
“Every month, 55,000 children need to be treated for the deadliest form of malnutrition. However, in Khartoum, less than one nutrition center in 50 is functioning, and in West Darfur, it is one in 10,” the spokesperson said. of UNICEF, James Elder. journalists.
This UN agency also warned that it lacks funds. The organization received less than a quarter of the $838 million (€784 million) it had requested to help some 10 million children in Sudan, its spokesman in Geneva said. “This lack of funding will mean loss of life,” she warned.
Source: TSF
