In Khartoum, Sudan, the ongoing civil war has severely impacted the lives of families and particularly children, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis. Touma, a 25-year-old mother, shares the plight of her three-year-old daughter, Masajed, who suffers from severe malnutrition. Touma describes how her family was forced to flee their home due to violence from clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), losing all their possessions in the process. With few resources available, she now watches her children suffer from hunger and illness in Bashaer Hospital, one of the few functioning hospitals in the capital.
According to the United Nations, approximately three million children under the age of five in Sudan are acutely malnourished, leading many to seek help at overwhelmed hospitals. Although Bashaer Hospital provides care free of charge, families must purchase necessary medicines. This has left many, like Touma, in despair over difficult choices regarding their children’s health.
The war has also left children in the city grappling with trauma and instability. Zaher, a twelve-year-old boy, has lost the use of his legs due to injuries sustained during a drone strike. His mother, Habibah, recounts the harrowing experience of losing a child while struggling to survive under RSF control. Attempting to cope, Zaher expresses a desire for prosthetic legs so he can play football again.
Meanwhile, Ahmed, a sixteen-year-old, describes the decay of his former playground, now littered with reminders of conflict. Children like Zaher and his classmates are deprived of a standard education, with their schools devastated. Nevertheless, Zaher finds solace in a makeshift classroom, offering a glimmer of hope amidst overwhelming challenges.
This humanitarian crisis raises questions about the future of Sudan’s youngest generation and what measures can be taken to alleviate their suffering.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cre5rng5808o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss