Conflict, climate change and an economic and political crisis are fuelling a growing humanitarian emergency in North Darfur, resulting in rising cases of malnutrition.
The region has some of the poorest nutrition levels in Sudan with 45.9 per cent of children under five suffering chronic malnutrition.
Over 1.9 million people have been identified as in need of assistance with the most vulnerable living in dire conditions in Internally Displaced Persons camps. They were first set up as temporary emergency shelters in 2004 when war swept across Darfur.
Irish aid agency GOAL is leading international aid efforts to combat rising malnutrition in the Kutum area, where 71 per cent of households live on less than AUD $3 per day amid widespread food shortages.
Its primary health care clinic near Kassab IDP camp, where more than 25,000 people are in desperate need of help, has seen a sharp rise in malnutrition in recent months as families struggle to survive.
GOAL has been responding to humanitarian and development needs in Sudan since 1985. Its 240 staff support conflict-affected populations in North Darfur and South Kordofan, with programs to improve food security, health and nutrition.
These images were taken while on assignment for GOAL Global in August 2022. https://www.goalglobal.org