Crisis in Sudan

As the Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations at UNICEF, Mr. Chaiban painted a distressing picture of the impact on Sudan's young population. Over 70% of the country's residents are children and young people, who are facing unimaginable threats to their present and future. Chaiban, who had witnessed the atrocities of the Darfur conflict 18 years ago, expressed deep concern about a haunting repetition of history.

The conflict's toll on Sudan's children is heartbreaking – they are being killed, injured, and even recruited into armed groups. Amidst ethnic- and gender-based violence, the very institutions meant to protect them – schools and hospitals – are being razed to the ground. This onslaught has displaced an alarming number of children, with nearly 14 million in dire need of humanitarian assistance. 

The crisis has forced parents into agonizing decisions – stay and risk danger, or flee and leave everything behind. Children on the move, both within Sudan and to neighboring countries, are exposed to a gauntlet of perils, including hunger, disease, violence, and separation from their families. A staggering three million under-fives are malnourished, with 700,000 teetering on the brink of severe acute malnutrition. The risk of disease outbreaks looms large, as 1.7 million children face potential vaccination gaps.

The situation has escalated to a point where more than 20 million Sudanese are grappling with severe hunger, with six million hovering on the edge of famine. Displacement has surged, with four million people fleeing their homes, seeking refuge across the borders in neighboring Chad, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

Mr. Chaiban and Ms. Wosornu make an impassioned plea to the warring factions – a plea for a lasting ceasefire, for the protection of civilians and children, and for unhindered humanitarian access. As the conflict rages on, their message resonates across the battle lines: it's time to put an end to the suffering and work towards a peaceful future for Sudan's innocent victims.

_{Source: Un, AVC}