Funding Cuts Drive Sudan's Children to the Brink of Irreversible Harm
BY REUTERS
An entire generation of Sudanese children is on the brink of irreversible harm due to severe funding cuts and persistent malnutrition, the U.N. children's agency said on Tuesday.
Speaking via video link from Port Sudan, Sheldon Yett, UNICEF's Representative in Sudan, painted a grim picture of the situation. "Children have limited access to safe water, food, and healthcare. Malnutrition is rife, and many good children are reduced to just skin and bones," he said. Yett warned, "We are on the verge of irreversible damage being done to an entire generation of children in Sudan."
UNICEF's warning comes as the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, and other U.N. agencies face one of the worst funding crises in decades, exacerbated by major donors like the United States slashing foreign aid. The funding shortfall is forcing humanitarian partners in Sudan to scale back life-saving services, even as the scale of need is staggering.
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has displaced millions and split the country into rival zones of control. The World Food Programme warned in July that several areas south of the capital, Khartoum, are at risk of famine.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only 23% of the $4.16 billion global humanitarian response plan for Sudan has been funded.
Access to those in need remains a major challenge. UNICEF reported that some roads are now inaccessible due to the rainy season, while areas like Al-Fashir remain under siege. Jens Laerke of OCHA underscored the urgency, stating, "It has been one year since famine was confirmed in ZamZam camp and no food has reached this area. Al-Fashir remains under siege. We need that access now.
Tags: Unicef Signstvkenya United Nations
