Sixty people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition in Umbada, west of Omdurman, as conflict exacerbates the region’s humanitarian crisis. Over 1,800 malnutrition cases have been reported in the area since September 2023, highlighting the dire need for urgent intervention.
Umbada, divided between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has been severely impacted by the war that began in April 2023. The locality’s Emergency Room revealed that the deaths included 45 children, 12 elderly individuals, and three pregnant women between September 2024 upto earlier 2025. Malnutrition cases have surged to 1,873, primarily affecting vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and the elderly across Dar es Salaam, Al-Amir, and Al-Buqa’a.
Critical shortages of food, nutritional supplements, and medical care have hampered relief efforts. Authorities in SAF-controlled regions have imposed strict restrictions on the delivery of goods to RSF-held areas, further complicating humanitarian access. An Emergency Room official emphasized the urgent need for safe transport corridors, medical supplies, and a comprehensive healthcare response to address the escalating crisis.
In a related development, over 22,000 families in Sudan’s East Nile region are on the brink of starvation following the closure of 161 community kitchens that had been providing vital food aid. The area, a stronghold of the RSF, has been grappling with soaring food and fuel prices, limited resources, and an influx of displaced people. Only 58 kitchens remain operational, serving approximately 12,500 families.
The East Nile Emergency Room has appealed to U.N. agencies and humanitarian organizations for immediate assistance. “Essential goods are scarce, and families are struggling to survive,” an official stated, as Anadolu Agency reported.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has intensified humanitarian needs, leaving millions reliant on aid as malnutrition and starvation worsen across the country.