UNICEF: Sudan risks the loss of a whole generation of children, and the world must move now

Lucia spoke to journalists at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on Friday, noting that she had returned from Sudan last week.

She said that urgent measures are needed to protect the children of Sudan. All actors, governments, donors, and conflict parties, called for action now to ensure human access through conflict lines and borders, protect the humanitarian and supplies workers, increase funding to meet the escalating needs, and end violence.

She explained that more than 16 million children in Sudan urgently need help, and about 17 million children outside the school two years ago. Girls face grave risks, including sexual violence, trafficking and forced marriage. More than 12 million people are at risk of gender -based violence.

Lucia added that the children are killed, distorted and deserted, while reporting severe violations daily. Many of them face the risk of recruitment and use by armed authorities, child labor and early marriage. As for psychological losses, they are destroyed. He left conflict, loss and displacement children suffering from anxiety, depression and shocks.

She said: “Access to these children has become increasingly difficult. During my recent visit, I traveled to Kassala, Qadarif Wood Civil, as I witnessed the examination of children to detect malnutrition, mothers who seek an urgent treatment for their children, and desperate families to obtain clean water and sanitation. The need is amazing, however, aid is not available in size and speed required.”

At the same time, UNICEF official said that she saw a great matter, as the displaced societies and host communities meet to contribute their skills and capabilities to provide humanitarian services, and continued: “I saw children keen to learn and play in temporary educational centers. For many children, this is their first chance to go to school, because they come from areas where there are no previous educational services. These centers are not just places to learn; they provide a sense of natural life, hope and protection.”

A journey that is fraught with cautious

UNICEF’s emergency program director said that she also saw buses loaded with the few property that families could carry, heading to the areas where the battles calmed down, in Sinja and Sennar Wood Civil.

She pointed out that parents begin with caution, the journey of return, in the hope that the circumstances will remain stable so that they can rebuild their lives. “But I also met families who do not have a house to return to, and their societies were shattered, and they were stuck in forgetting, with little hope in the future.”

Acute malnutrition threatens thousands of children

UNICEF official said it is expected that 3.2 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from severe malnutrition this year, including 770,000 who face severe malnutrition, which is the most deadly hunger, which makes children 11 times more likely to die.

But this crisis is not only related to food, according to Mrs. Lucia Alami, without safe water, sanitation and health care, children will not survive. The basic services have collapsed in the affected areas of starvation.

Obstacles prevent help

UNICEF official said that the bureaucratic and administrative obstacles in obtaining the necessary permits to deliver supplies in areas affected by armed conflict still hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid.

She explained that the miserable situation is already exacerbated due to the continued armed conflict, tribal violence and direct attacks on the humanitarian workers and mutual assistance groups. The looting and violence were forced to suspend operations in multiple areas.

She said: “Last year, the food crisis in Sudan has turned into a famine, which we have long warned of, and now we warn that the situation has been getting worse. Since April 2023, the number of people who face acute food insecurity has doubled three times. Famine conditions have occurred in at least five sites, including the displacement camps in North Darfur and the Nuba Mountains.”

UNICEF is on the ground despite the challenges

Despite the tremendous challenges, Lucia Alami said that UNICEF is on the ground. During the past year, I managed to:

• Providing psychosocial support, education and protection services to 2.7 million children and provider.
• Providing safe drinking water for 9.8 million people.
• Examine 6.7 million children to detect malnutrition and provide life -saving treatment for 422 thousand of them.

The UNICEF official said that the organization will continue to provide urgent assistance while also working to restore basic services and build the ability to withstand in the most affected areas.