Italy has donated 2.5 million euros (about 2.67 million U.S. dollars) to Sudan to support emergency nutrition activities in the country.

The funds, donated through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), were received on Monday by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan.

"We are extremely grateful to the Government of Italy for this contribution, especially at this time when humanitarian needs in Sudan are drastically increasing," said WFP Sudan Representative and Country Director Eddie Rowe.

WFP said the donation would enable it provide specialized nutritious food to over 160,000 children under-five and pregnant and nursing women in crisis-affected areas to treat and prevent malnutrition.

The agency pointed out that around 13.6 percent of children in Sudan are acutely malnourished and 36 percent are stunted, posing increased risks of morbidity and mortality for children under five.

On his part, AICS Khartoum Director, Michele Morana noted that Italy was committed to contributing towards tackling food-related problems.

"As Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) donor convener, Italy is deeply committed in supporting projects to address the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition. In particular, ongoing conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, hikes in food prices and inflation will drastically increase the number of malnourished children. We are glad to support WFP to prevent a massive malnutrition crisis for the children of Sudan," said Morana.