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UNICEF Regional Director ‘deeply disturbed’ by impact of Darfur crisis upon children

Mr. Abdi’s visit aimed to review progress made for children in 2006, and identify ongoing challenges to development. In recognizing that significant steps forward for children had been made over the last twelve months in Sudan, the UNICEF Regional Director maintained that the Darfur crisis, affecting an estimated 2 million children, still overshadowed these achievements.

“I am convinced that progress is being made for many children in Sudan,” said Mr. Abdi “but the situation in Darfur hangs like a cloud over everything I have seen and heard.”

Citing his visit to South Darfur, Mr. Abdi recalled the misery and suffering of the civilian population, exacerbated by constraints on humanitarian access. “I have met children and mothers whose lives have been ripped apart by this conflict, their homes destroyed, their relatives killed, often victims of violence themselves, many forced to live like refugees in their own country. After hearing their stories, I am deeply disturbed by the impact that this conflict is having upon innocent women and children.”

Attacks against humanitarian organizations had increased, noted Mr. Abdi, with 14 vehicles belonging to aid agencies hijacked and stolen the last three months in South Darfur alone, along with other attacks against convoys and premises across the region. Mr. Abdi also drew attention to the plight of five technical staff from the State Water Corporation in South Darfur who are still missing following their abduction in October during a humanitarian assessment mission.

Mr. Abdi recognized that there had been important progress for children in Sudan during 2006, including zero cases of polio being reported, reductions in malaria and guinea worm cases, high levels of immunization during special campaigns, and introduction of important legislation to prevent the recruitment of minors into the armed forces and to develop fortification of food with essential micronutrients. He congratulated Government and NGO partners for their role in making such progress, but cautioned that more had to be done for women and children. “The development indicators for women and children in Sudan remain alarming and the country is far from being on track to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Millions of children still suffer from poor access to education, poor health, exploitation and abuse,” warned Abdi.

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About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For further information, please contact:

Edward Carwardine, Senior Communication Officer, UNICEF Sudan: Mobile  + 249 (0)912 177 291; ecarwardine@unicef.org

Wolfgang Friedl, UNICEF Regional Communication Officer, UNICEF Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa: Mobile + 96279 573 2745; wfriedl@unicef.org