Sudan: Alert! The lives of Sudanese children in danger

The conditions of the children under the age of five is worrying as 3 million Sudanese children are malnourished, and 700 thousand face severe acute malnutrition and the risk of mortality.

The over 100-day fighting between the Sudanese Army and the parliamentary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in many killings, injuries, abductions, and even child recruitment into armed groups in different crisis-affected regions. The war has adversely affected civilians, including 24 million people across the country and nearly 14 million children, making the situation a real catastrophe.

The previously crisis-stricken Sudan faced new challenges since the eruption of the war on April 15th, threatening the lives and futures of many children and young people that make up more than 70% of the population of the country. The conditions of the children under the age of five is worrying as 3 million Sudanese children are malnourished, and 700 thousand face severe acute malnutrition and the risk of mortality.

In addition to food insecurity, many children are vulnerable to hunger, disease, violence, and separation from their families on the move to seek safety in neighboring regions or countries. Besides, it is predicted that as many as 1.7 million children would miss their critical vaccinations, which could subsequently increase the risk of disease outbreaks. A lethal combination of acute watery diarrhea, measles and malnutrition is already evident in in White Nile State.

War has also created unsafe conditions for children. At least 435 children have been reported killed in the conflict, and at least 2025 children have been injured, which is an average of one child killed or injured every hour since the beginning of the war.

The toll that the catastrophic war is taking on Sudanese children is unacceptable, giving the message to the parties of the war to stop fighting and commit to a durable cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, prevention of violations against children, and ensuring access to humanitarian aid.

un.org