Funding Cuts Threaten Sudanese Children with Irreversible Harm

The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, warned on March 12, 2024, that severe funding cuts are pushing an entire generation of children in Sudan to the brink of irreversible harm. As international support dwindles, the situation for countless children deteriorates, with high rates of malnutrition reported across the nation.

Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, expressed grave concerns regarding the current humanitarian crisis. Speaking via video link from Port Sudan, he stated, “Children have limited access to safe water, food, healthcare. Malnutrition is rife, and many children are reduced to just skin and bones.” The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified the crisis, displacing millions and dividing the country into zones of control.

The World Food Programme indicated that several areas south of Khartoum are at risk of famine, as funding cuts have severely limited access to essential services. UNICEF highlighted that children are increasingly cut off from life-saving assistance at a time when the need is staggering. Only 23 percent of the $4.16 billion global humanitarian response plan for Sudan has been funded, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

With access to affected areas fraught with challenges, aid delivery efforts are hindered by seasonal weather conditions. Some roads have become impassable due to the rainy season, further exacerbating the crisis. Regions, such as Al-Fashir, remain under siege, restricting humanitarian access.

“It has been one year since famine was confirmed in Zamzam camp, and no food has reached this area,” said Jens Laerke from OCHA. The call for immediate access to these beleaguered areas grows more urgent each day. The combination of conflict, funding shortages, and logistical challenges paints a dire picture for Sudanese children, who are now at risk of suffering irreversible damage from malnutrition and lack of basic necessities.

As the situation continues to evolve, UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies urge the international community to respond to the crisis. The consequences of inaction could be devastating, with an entire generation of children facing the long-term impacts of neglect and deprivation.