The UNICEF Chief in Sudan has warned that if the war between the two generals vying for power continues, the country will face a “generational catastrophe,” with 24 million Sudanese children as the first victims.
In an interview with the Agence France Presse (AFFP), Mandeep O’Brien said, “The conflict in Sudan endangers the health of 24 million children and thus the future of the country, which could have severe consequences for the entire region.” The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported in its latest report that more than half a million people have been affected by clashes in the Gezira state in central Sudan.
The office explained, “More than 500,000 people have been affected by the clashes between the army and rapid support in parts of Gezira state, according to the displacement tracking matrix of the International Organization for Migration. According to the report, about 275,000 people from Wad Madani Al-Kubra and East Gezira localities in Gezira state have been displaced, while about 234,000 people from Khartoum state have fled to Gezira state and experienced secondary displacement after the outbreak of violence in Gezira state in mid-December.
The office also pointed to the cutting off of roads leading to the villages east of Gezira state, which led to a shortage of basic food items and a tripling of their prices. Since the outbreak of fighting in mid-April until now, more than 12,000 people have been killed, and about 7 million have been forced to flee to safer internal areas and cross borders into neighboring countries.
The conflict in Sudan, which escalated in April 2023, has had severe humanitarian consequences. Clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have resulted in extensive damage to infrastructure, including water treatment plants and medical facilities, particularly in Khartoum. The fighting has severely impacted civilian life, with reports of arbitrary arrests, mistreatment of civilians, and systematic looting. Humanitarian agencies are concerned about the health risks and the limited functioning of medical facilities in conflict-affected areas. Over 70% of these facilities are reportedly non-operational. The violence has also led to widespread displacement within Sudan and into neighboring countries, with significant numbers fleeing to Chad due to attacks in West Darfur.
