UNICEF and MSF Urge Action as Children Suffer in Sudan’s Civil War
UNICEF reports that 16 million children in Sudan are suffering due to the civil war, facing threats of violence, starvation, and disease. Executive Director Catherine Russell highlights the urgent need for aid and long-term care for the traumatized youth. MSF’s Christopher Lockyear notes alarming levels of sexual violence against children and women. Both organizations call for immediate humanitarian assistance and the cessation of hostilities.
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, stated that approximately 16 million children in Sudan are enduring severe hardships due to the ongoing civil war. Many are facing threats from violence, starvation, disease, and sexual assault within their communities. “The fighting is happening right at their doorsteps, around their homes, their schools and hospitals,” she detailed, addressing the United Nations Security Council.
Particularly vulnerable are children under the age of five, with over 1.3 million residing in famine hotspots and an additional three million at risk of diseases spread by a failing health system. Alarmingly, at least 16.5 million children are currently out of school. Russell also disclosed that there were 221 reported cases of rape against minors in nine Sudanese states last year, with the majority being female. “In 16 of the recorded cases, the children were under the age of five. Four were babies under the age of one,” she added.
Russell emphasized the need for healthcare and long-term support for these traumatized children, noting that the pain inflicted by the conflict does not simply vanish with a ceasefire or peace agreement. “The trauma these children experience and the deep scars it leaves behind… They will need ongoing care and support to heal and rebuild their lives,” she stated.
Furthermore, Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), informed the council that his organization treated 385 survivors of sexual violence last year, indicating that many victims, including very young children, were assaulted by armed men. Lockyear remarked that women and girls are disproportionately targeted in this crisis, with nearly half of the assaults occurring in fields.
This plight is linked to a power struggle between two military factions that commenced in Khartoum in April 2023 and has now expanded throughout large areas of Sudan, particularly the Darfur region. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are reportedly responsible for severe human rights violations.
Lockyear recounted witnessing a devastating scene of destruction in Omdurman, where lives were hopelessly disrupted by the conflict. He lamented that despite urgent calls for an end to hostilities, civilians in Sudan remain vulnerable, bombarded, and deprived of basic needs and dignity.
UNICEF has called for an urgent funding request of one billion dollars this year to support crucial services for 8.7 million children in Sudan, encompassing nutrition, water, sanitation, protection, health, and education. Russell and Lockyear jointly urged the Security Council to compel opposing factions to facilitate the delivery of essential aid.
In summary, the ongoing civil war in Sudan has drastically impacted millions of children, with severe risks of violence, starvation, and health crises. Continuous trauma requires sustained international attention and support, as articulated by leaders from UNICEF and MSF. Immediate humanitarian aid, particularly financial resources, is essential for safeguarding the welfare of affected children and providing necessary services.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
