Funding Cuts Threaten Sudan’s Children with Irreversible Damage

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that funding cuts are pushing an entire generation of children in Sudan toward irreversible harm. As support diminishes and malnutrition remains pervasive, the situation has become critical, according to the agency’s representative in Sudan, Sheldon Yett. Speaking from Port Sudan, he highlighted the severe limitations on access to essential resources like safe water, food, and healthcare.

The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. Millions have been displaced, and the country is now fragmented into areas of rival control, with the RSF entrenched in western Sudan. The World Food Programme recently reported that several regions south of Khartoum are at imminent risk of famine.

Humanitarian Aid on the Brink

Yett emphasized that children are being denied access to life-saving services due to significant funding reductions. “With recent funding cuts, many of our partners in Khartoum and elsewhere have been forced to scale back their operations,” he stated. “We are being stretched to the limit across Sudan, with children dying of hunger.” The dire situation underscores the urgency for increased financial support as UNICEF warns of the potential for irreversible damage to Sudan’s youth.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only 23 percent of the $4.16 billion global humanitarian response plan for Sudan has been funded. The ongoing funding crisis is one of the worst in decades, primarily influenced by decisions from donor states, including the United States, to cut foreign aid.

The challenges of delivering aid are compounded by logistical issues, as many roads remain inaccessible due to the rainy season. Some areas, like Al-Fashir, are under siege, severely limiting humanitarian access. Jens Laerke from OCHA noted, “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.”

Urgent Need for Action

The scale of need across Sudan is staggering, with malnutrition rates climbing alarmingly among children. Yett’s statements convey a sense of urgency, as the situation deteriorates further each day. “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.

The international community is now faced with the critical task of addressing the funding shortfalls and ensuring that humanitarian support reaches those most in need. Without immediate action, the consequences for Sudan’s children could be devastating, with an entire generation at risk of facing irreversible harm.