Children in Sudan are facing an increasingly dire situation as the ongoing civil war intersects with the climate crisis, potentially leading to tens of thousands of child deaths in the coming months, warns a UNICEF spokesperson.
James Elder, who recently arrived in Sudan, described the situation as “critical,” highlighting that Sudan is experiencing the “largest child displacement in the world.”
Elder reported, “Every day, 10,000 girls and boys are displaced,” emphasizing that the conflict has been affecting five million children for nearly 500 days. Many displaced children find themselves in camps without access to clean drinking water, medical supplies, or proper sanitation.
Food shortages and health risks are severe, with warring factions often obstructing aid delivery. Elder noted, “Children are facing threats from multiple fronts.”
He added, “I have witnessed children being killed while playing football due to attacks. Additionally, they are suffering from diseases, famine, and floods. It’s a catastrophe.”
Elder also pointed out that climate change is exacerbating the crisis, with children in Sudan now experiencing twice as many heat waves as their grandparents did 50-60 years ago. He stressed, “Children lack the resilience to endure such prolonged, intense heat.”
He called for renewed negotiations between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and urged the international community to pay greater attention to the crisis. Humanitarian organizations, including UNICEF, are struggling to provide aid due to insufficient funding, bureaucratic hurdles, and ongoing attacks. Elder noted that 13 regions in Sudan are on the verge of famine and need immediate life-saving assistance.
Criticizing both the warring factions and the international community, Elder described the situation as a “dangerous example of global indifference towards children” amid profound suffering. Despite these challenges, he observed an “extraordinary spirit of unity” among the Sudanese people, with communities coming together to support each other in the face of adversity.
