Sudan: 700 Displaced Children Every Hour

International relief organization concerned with children has revealed that Sudan is witnessing the displacement of over 700 new children every hour, warning that the future of Sudans children is at stake without peace.

UNICEF stated in a statement today from Port Sudan that the war has forced at least two million children to leave their homes since the conflict erupted in Sudan four months ago. Among them, 1.7 million children are displaced within Sudans borders, while over 470,000 children have crossed into neighboring countries.

It warned that nearly 700,000 children are severely malnourished and are at great risk of not surviving without treatment.

Save the Children had stated on Tuesday that hundreds of children had died of hunger due to food shortages, most of them from families displaced from Khartoum.

Mandip OBrien, UNICEFs representative in Sudan, said, We are hearing unimaginable stories from children and families who have lost everything and have had to witness their loved ones die before their eyes. We need peace now so that children can survive.

The organization added that currently, nearly 14 million children need urgent humanitarian support, and many of them face multiple threats and terrifying experiences every day.

It added: Currently, over 9.4 million children lack access to safe drinking water in Sudan, and 3.4 million children under the age of five are at risk of contracting diarrheal diseases and cholera.

Floods caused by heavy rains have led to more families fleeing due to house destruction, in addition to the risk of the spread of diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, Rift Valley fever, and chikungunya.

Health systems in the remaining eleven states are severely strained due to the mass displacement of populations from hotspots to these less affected states. According to UNICEF sources, all states in Sudan have reported a severe shortage and depletion of drug and supply stocks, including life-saving materials.