The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Six days of escalating violence in Sudan between rival military forces, and several failed ceasefires, have taken a devastating toll on the country’s children, the UN Child Agency (UNICEF) said today at a briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.
“We now have reports of at least 9 children killed, at least 50 have been injured,” said UNICEF spokespersonJames Elder. “Those numbers will continue to rise as long as fighting continues. What is really important to remember is that this fighting, as many of you will have seen, also means you have large numbers of people trapped so they haven’t got access to electricity, and they are terrified of running out of food, of water, of medicines.”
Before hostilities started in Sudan, humanitarian needs for children were higher than ever before. Three quarters of children were estimated to live in extreme poverty, 11,5 million children and community members needed emergency water and sanitation services. Sudan has one of the highest malnutrition rates among children in the world.
“We have now got a situation where critical life-saving support for over 50,000 children is at risk, severely, acutely malnourished children,” said UNICEF’s James Elder. “Now these children are in hospitals because they have the most severe cases so they are being fed with tubes because that is essentially the only way they can be fed, and when the bombing or shelling begins outside hospitals, and when medical staff need to flee, then what?”
The fighting has worsened the situation of vulnerable children in the country, so UNICEF. It also puts at risk the cold chain in Sudan, including over USD 40 million worth of vaccines and insulin, due to the breaks in the power supply and the instability to restock generators with fuel.
“Humanitarian assistance is critical now. UNICEF and our partners can’t provide that support when that safety and security of staff is not guaranteed,” said James Elder. “As the UN Secretary-General has been saying for a week, we need forces to immediately cease hostilities- for all parties to respect their international obligations to keep children away from harm.”
UNICEF also calls on all parties to refrain from attacking civilian infrastructure on which children depend such as water and sanitation systems, health facilities and schools.
“In terms of what can be done, that is why for the moment you keep hearing from the Secretary-General that it requires a cease-fire, because the fighting has been so indiscriminate and so many staff members and partners and so many brave non-governmental organizations on the ground on whom UN agencies rely- they are bunkering down, and going to the Nile to try and get water despite the lack of safety in that both in terms of sanitation and being under fire,” said James Elder.
According to a spokesperson from the World Health Organization (WHO) who cited a Sudanese government source, 413 people died and 3,551 were injured since the conflict broke out on Saturday.
WHO informed further that they have verified 11 attacks on health care facilities that took place since 15th April and that an additional 20 have stopped working.
-ends-
STORY: Millions of Children at Risk in Sudan- UNICEF
TRT: 02’17”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
RELEASE DATE: 21 April 2023
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior wide shot: UN flag alley UN Geneva.
- Wide shot of monitors and podium, conference room, Palais des Nations, Geneva
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF): “We now have reports of at least 9 children killed, at least 50 have been injured. Those numbers will continue to rise as long as fighting continues. What is really important to remember is that this fighting, as many of you will have seen, also means you have large numbers of people trapped so they haven’t got access to electricity, and they are terrified of running out of food, of water, of medicines.”
- Medium shot, journalists in the room, with the speaker and monitor in the background
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF): “We have now got a situation where critical life-saving support for over 50,000 children is at risk, severely, acutely malnourished children. Now these children are in hospitals because they have the most severe cases so they are being fed with tubes because that is essentially the only way they can be fed, and when the bombing or shelling begins outside hospitals, and when medical staff need to flee, then what?”
- Close-up, journalists in the room
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF): “Humanitarian assistance is critical now. UNICEF and our partners can’t provide that support when that safety and security of staff is not guaranteed. As the UN Secretary-General has been saying for a week, we need forces to immediately cease hostilities- for all parties to respect their international obligations to keep children away from harm.”
- Close-up: journalists
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF): “In terms of what can be done, that is why for the moment you keep hearing from the Secretary-General that it requires a cease-fire, because the fighting has been so indiscriminate and so many staff members and partners and so many brave non-governmental organizations on the ground on whom UN agencies rely- they are bunkering down, and going to the Nile to try and get water despite the lack of safety in that both in terms of sanitation and being under fire.”
- Close-up, journalists typing
- Close-up: technician
- Medium shot: cameraperson and monitor
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue to kill and injure civilians, and destroy civilian infrastructure, raising concerns regarding the protection of civilians, the UN Human Rights Office warned today.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNWOMEN , UNDP
Sudan: Aid teams report massive displacement after latest Darfur atrocity; women’s bodies ‘turned into battlegrounds’
In Sudan’s North Darfur, tens of thousands of people have fled a displacement camp following the massacre of civilians and aid workers as the country enters the third year of a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | ITC
Global trade could shrink by three per cent as a result of the United States’ new tariff measures which in the longer term could reshape and boost as-yet untapped regional commercial links, a top UN economist confirmed on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Warring parties in Sudan are overseeing a wholesale assault on human rights amid global inaction, the UN Human Rights Office said on Friday, as the conflict is about to enter its third year.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday said Israel’s increasing issuance of so-called “evacuation orders” for Palestinians in Gaza have resulted in their forcible transfer.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNHCR , UNWOMEN , WFP , WHO
Two years of war in Sudan have created epic suffering, aid agencies say
Two years since Sudan’s brutal conflict began, UN agencies warned that famine is spreading and civilians of all ages continue to suffer shocking abuse, including rape and gang rape.
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
In Gaza, ongoing Israeli military operations and the aid blockade have continued to add to daily fears and hardships confronting those in the devastated enclave, the UN Mine Action Service, UNMAS, said on Wednesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNDP
Dangers grow for Myanmar earthquake survivors, health system 'overwhelmed' - UNDP
In earthquake-shattered central Myanmar people are sleeping in the streets in fear of buildings collapsing, facing early monsoon rains and the risk of waterborne diseases, the UN Development Programme warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | ICRC , OHCHR , UNHCR
Myanmar’s military has continued to launch airstrikes and other attacks against opposition forces in the devastated country, one week since a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck and despite announcing a ceasefire, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on Tuesday presented a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, detailing the continued violations of human rights as a result of the offensive launched by the Rwandan-backed M23 in eastern DRC.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , IFRC
UN humanitarians and partners on Tuesday expressed deep shock at the killing of 15 colleagues on duty in southern Gaza whose remains were recovered from a shallow grave after a week-long rescue operation, noting that one worker is still missing.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , OCHA , WHO , UNHCR
Myanmar earthquake latest: window for lifesaving support is closing, say UN humanitarians
As the death toll continues to rise in earthquake-struck Myanmar, UN humanitarians have been rushing to support severely deprived and traumatized victims, warning that the window for lifesaving response is closing.