Emergency response in Sudan

Continuing violence in Sudan has left more than 13.6 million children in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian support, the highest number ever recorded in the country.

Even before the conflict erupted, humanitarian needs across Sudan had reached record levels – Sudan has one of the highest rates of malnutrition among children in the world, with more than 3 million children acutely malnourished. Now, an already dire situation has reached catastrophic levels, with access to food, safe water, electricity, and telecommunications unreliable, inaccessible and unaffordable. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced, including around 380,000 people who have fled the country or who have returned to their country of origin. Hundreds of people have lost their lives.

Places where children simply must be safe – homes, schools and hospitals – have consistently come under attack, and continue to do so. Humanitarian workers have also been attacked, while humanitarian facilities, vehicles and supplies – including those of UNICEF – have been looted or destroyed. All such attacks undermine our capacity to reach children across the country with lifesaving services.

UNICEF is advocating for safe passage for children and their families trapped in conflict areas and is working to provide supplies and services, including water, critical health care, vaccine, access to basic supplies and services, emergency supplies, child protection and mental health support to those who have been affected by the conflict.