Nutritional disorder occurring mostly in the tropics and resulting from a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine). The disease takes two forms: in one oedema (waterlogging of the tissues) occurs; in the other there is severe emaciation. There is nerve degeneration in both forms and many victims succumb to heart failure.
White stands for Islam, peace, optimism, light, and love. Red recalls the martyrs of Sudan and the people's struggle. Black stands for Sudan and the Mahdiya revolution of the 1880s. Effective date: 20 May 1970.