The reported figures are likely just the tip of the iceberg, highlighting the devastating impact of the crisis on vulnerable children in a country where nearly 14 million children are in need of humanitarian support.

Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, who is currently in Sudan, expressed his concern, stating: "The scale of the impact that this conflict has had on children in Sudan in the past 100 days is almost beyond comprehension." He emphasized the tragic reality where children are killed, injured, abducted, and left without essential services like schools and hospitals due to the violence and destruction.

According to UNICEF, at least 435 children have been reported killed, and 2,025 children have been injured in the conflict. In addition to these alarming numbers, there have been escalating attacks on health facilities, with around 68% of hospitals in the worst-affected areas forced to suspend services, and at least 17 hospitals reported to be bombed.

The ongoing violence has led to the displacement of millions of families, including 1.7 million children who are now on the move within Sudan and crossing its borders, facing hunger, disease, violence, and family separation. Reports of abductions, recruitment of children into armed groups, ethnically targeted violence, and gender-based violence against women and girls have surged, putting 4.2 million women and girls at risk.

However, providing humanitarian aid is a major challenge due to restricted movement, administrative barriers, and denial of access by the conflicting parties. Aid workers are also at risk, hindering the delivery of much-needed assistance. As a result, at least 690,000 children are exposed to severe acute malnutrition, and 1.7 million children under one year are at risk of missing critical vaccinations, raising the threat of disease outbreaks.

Ted Chaiban emphasized the urgent need for action, stating: "Without guaranteed, safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian workers, along with urgently needed additional funding, the futures of millions of children will remain in the balance."

Despite the difficulties, UNICEF, along with its partners, has managed to reach over 3 million children and women with health supplies, 1.4 million people with safe drinking water, and 1.7 million children with malnutrition screening, providing life-saving treatment to 82,000 children. Additionally, nearly 100,000 children and caregivers are receiving psycho-social counseling and protection support through safe-spaces established across the country.

However, the UNICEF appeal for US$838 million to reach nearly 10 million vulnerable children in Sudan is only 9% funded as of mid-July. UNICEF urgently requires $400 million to sustain and expand critical life-saving health, nutrition, water, sanitation, learning, and protection assistance over the next 100 days. (ILKHA)