Sudan: More than half of children assessed in Jebel Marra stunted as drought worsens hunger crisis

KHARTOUM, 28 October 2026 – More than half of children assessed in Jebel Marra, one of Sudan's most isolated and food-insecure regions, are chronically malnourished, according to new Save the Children data, highlighting the growing impact of conflict and the El-Niño weather event. New data from Save the Children in Central Jebal Marra found 57% of children are chronically malnourished (known as stunted) while 15% of children assessed – or nearly one in six - were acutely malnourished [1]. Stunting, meaning a child has low height for their age, reflects chronic or recurrent undernutrition while acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning a child has low weight for their height due to recent or ongoing severe weight loss or failure to gain weight. Both forms of malnutrition can have lasting consequences for children's health and development. As a result of conflict, food shortages, limited access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation, the survey found that over four in 10 (43%) children in Central Jebel Marra had been ill in the two weeks preceding the survey. A total of 69% of households surveyed relied on unsafe or untreated water. The findings underline the urgent need for an integrated response to malnutrition that addresses not only children's immediate nutritional needs, but also access to food, healthcare, safe water, sanitation and protection from diseases, said Save the Children. Jebel Marra, a usually fertile and food producing area of Sudan, is being hit by the combined effects of conflict, severe drought, disrupted livelihoods and a critically underfunded humanitarian response. Lack of rainfall has also led to shortages of animal fodder, placing further pressure on herders. Global hunger monitor, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), last week warned that conflict, displacement and severe El Niño-induced drought are increasing the risk of famine in parts of Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has caused the world’s largest displacement crisis, forcing about 11 million people from their homes, with at least 19 million people – or two in every five Sudanese – facing acute food insecurity, according to the World Food Programme. The impact of drought and Sudan’s wider hunger crisis is also being felt beyond Darfur. In Gedaref, seven-month-old Hamza* lost his mother shortly after birth and was cared for by his grandmother, Khadija*. When he became seriously ill, she took him to a Save the Children-supported stabilisation centre, where he was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition and received treatment. He is now recovering. “When we arrived at the stabilisation centre, the doctors and nurses immediately began treating him,” said Khadija. “Today, he smiles, plays and looks like a different child.” Claire Henery, Country Director for Save the Children in Sudan, said: “Children in Sudan are being hit by crisis upon crisis. Conflict has already devastated livelihoods and access to essential services, and drought is deepening an already severe crisis. “ Our latest findings from Central Jebel Marra show children facing both acute malnutrition and the long-term effects of inadequate nutrition. At the same time, many families lack safe water, and children remain vulnerable to disease. “The international community cannot look away. We urgently need a large-scale integrated response and sustained access to provide food security, life-saving nutrition, healthcare and clean water while strengthening the systems children depend on.” Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and provides programming for children and families affected by conflict, displacement, extreme poverty and hunger. Save the Children has recently launched a $300 million global humanitarian nutrition initiative for 2026–2028 bringing together public and private funders to treat and prevent child malnutrition and illness in the toughest humanitarian contexts – including in Sudan. Partners joining this initiative are helping reshape the future of humanitarian nutrition, redesigning the way the world treats malnutrition – from a reactive system focused on treating crisis to one that prevents it. Ends *Names changed for privacy [1] Save the Children survey of 581 households in Central Jabal Marra, Central Darfur. [2] https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Alert_Sudan_Oct2026.pdf. Malnutrition data refers to children aged 6 – 59 months. Multimedia content from Gedaref available here and here. ******************************************************************************************************************* For more information or to arrange an interview: Delfhin Mugo, Africa Media Manager (based in Nairobi), Delfhin.Mugo@savethechildren.org Aisha Majid, Data Media Manager (in Madrid), Aisha.Majid@savethechildren.org Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409 Please also check our X account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.