In Sudan today, childhood itself is under siege. More than 640,000 children under the age of five in North Darfur face the deadly combination of cholera, malnutrition, and ongoing violence. This is not a distant statistic—it is a moral summons for Catholics everywhere.
According to UNICEF, the cholera outbreak in North Darfur began on June 21, 2025, in the city of Tawila. Cases have since surged to more than 1,180, including around 300 children, with at least 20 child deaths. Across Darfur’s five states, there have been nearly 2,140 cholera cases and over 80 deaths. Severe acute malnutrition in the region has doubled in the past year, leaving weakened children unable to fight off infection or survive disease. UNICEF warns that “without immediate and safe access to life-saving nutrition, healthcare, and clean water, preventable child deaths will continue to rise.”
This is the face of human suffering that demands our Christian response. North Darfur’s hospitals have been bombed, medical facilities shuttered, and wells polluted. Overcrowded displacement camps lack clean water, shelter, and even basic sanitation. Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, said cholera is “devastating Tawila… threatening the lives of children—especially the youngest and most vulnerable.” These children are not numbers; they are Christ in the least of our brothers and sisters.
Catholics must recognize that this is not just a humanitarian crisis—it is a test of our discipleship. The Catechism reminds us that the works of mercy are not optional. We are commanded to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and care for the sick. In Sudan today, these commandments take on flesh.
There is hope if we act. UNICEF and its partners are trucking clean water to Tawila, restoring wells, distributing hygiene kits, and preparing to administer 1.4 million doses of oral cholera vaccines. But aid groups cannot keep pace with the escalating needs. Violence is blocking access, and the international community’s response is faltering.
We cannot remain silent or idle. For Catholics, prayer must move our hearts to charity and advocacy. Pray the Rosary for Sudan’s children. Offer Masses and Holy Hours for peace. Support Catholic and trusted humanitarian organizations working to bring water, food, and medicine to those who suffer. And urge our leaders to press for safe, unimpeded humanitarian corridors.
Our Lord said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Sudan’s children are waiting for the Body of Christ to answer His call.
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