New York: Executive Director of the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) Catherine Russell stated that nearly two thirds of Sudan's total population -- more than 30 million people -- will require humanitarian assistance this year, adding that 16 million of them are children.
In remarks at UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Russell said children in Sudan are enduring unimaginable suffering and horrific violence.
UNICEF estimated that around 1.3 million children under five living in famine areas, and that over 3 million children under five are at imminent risk of deadly disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria, and dengue, due to a failing health system.
16.5 million school-aged children -- nearly an entire generation -- are out of school, she noted.
Between June and December 2024, more than 900 incidents of grave violations against children were reported, Russell added, while saying: "Sadly, we know these numbers are just a fraction of the reality."
She added that the widespread use of explosive weapons also continues to proliferate -- with a devastating impact on children.
Russell stressed that the scale and gravity of this crisis requires urgent conflict de-escalation and unrestricted humanitarian access, both across borders and conflict lines, to fight and mitigate famine, and to meet the immediate needs of millions of vulnerable people.
