Thousands of children fleeing Sudan: aid agency

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23 August 2024 (Port Sudan) – Nearly 500 unaccompanied and separated children have arrived in Blue Nile and Gedaref states after fleeing intense fighting, which has forced many more to flee in search of safety, an aid agency said.

Citing data from the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), Save the Children said that on June 29, escalating violence in Sinja, the capital of Sennar State, triggered large-scale fighting that displaced about 725,000 people, of whom more than half are estimated to be children.

“Increasing numbers of children are fleeing to Blue Nile and Gedaref states without their parents,” Save the Children said in its statement.

Many of these families are reportedly being displaced for the second or third time, having sought refuge in Sinja, Sennar State, after fleeing Khartoum and Ghazira State in the early stages of the conflict.

Save the Children said in its statement that its child protection teams in Blue Nile and Gedaref states recorded that at least 451 children were forced to embark on dangerous escape routes without their parents between June 29 and August 14, the highest number recorded in such a short period of time since the conflict broke out in mid-April last year.

At least 60,000 internally displaced people who have arrived in Blue Nile state are being housed in more than 109 settlements and schools, which could delay the reopening of schools in September, according to children’s agencies.

Flooding and heavy rains have reportedly made the situation worse, making it difficult to transport food.

In addition, continued heavy rains and flooding have exacerbated the suffering of families and people fleeing the fighting, with muddy and impassable roads making it difficult for those in need to access basic supplies, including food and medicine.

Heavy rains have also led to a shortage of basic medicines and commodities such as flour, oil, cereals and onions in local markets, causing prices to rise.

The 16-month conflict has killed and injured thousands of children, forced many into child labour, disrupted health care and education, devastated food systems and created the world’s worst child displacement crisis, according to the United Nations.

For example, it is reported that approximately 6.7 million children have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict.

“Our staff in Blue Nile and Gedaref states receive at least nine children a day who are in displacement camps without their parents. When I visited the IDP camp in Gedaref last month, I saw children who had endured horrific journeys arriving at our reception centres exhausted, many of them showing signs of malnutrition,” said Mary Lupul, Humanitarian Director for Save the Children Sudan.

Aid agencies have expressed concern that humanitarian aid to Sudan is severely underfunded, with donors providing just 37.4% of the UN’s $2.7 billion relief package.

In early August, Save the Children warned that the number of children seeking treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in Sudan had surged to unprecedented levels. Data from the aid agency showed a sharp increase in malnutrition cases in South Kordofan State in south-central Sudan, with 99% of the project’s expected annual caseload of children under five admitted to hospitals for SAM in June alone (1).

Meanwhile, the Integrated Famine Review Committee

PORT SUDAN, 22 August 2024 – Nearly 500 unaccompanied and separated children have arrived in Blue Nile and Gedaref states in six weeks, Save the Children said, as intense fighting forced more people to flee in search of safety after 16 months of conflict.

According to the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), violence escalated in Sinja, the capital of Sennar State, on June 29, triggering large-scale fighting that displaced an estimated 725,000 people, more than half of whom were children.

Save the Children says an increasing number of children are fleeing to Blue Nile and Gedaref states without their parents. Many families are being displaced for the second or third time, having sought shelter in Sinja in Sennar state after fleeing Khartoum and Ghazira state in the early stages of the conflict.

Save the Children’s child protection teams in Blue Nile and Gedaref states recorded that at least 451 children were forced to make dangerous journeys for their lives without their parents between June 29 and August 14, the highest number recorded in such a short period of time since the conflict broke out in April 2023.

At least 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have arrived in Blue Nile State have settled in more than 109 settlements and schools, which could delay the reopening of schools in September.

In addition, continued heavy rains and flooding have exacerbated the suffering of families and children fleeing the fighting, with muddy and impassable roads making it difficult for those in need to access basic supplies, including food and medicine.

The Ministry of the Interior reported this month that heavy rains hit various parts of the country, causing at least 68 peopleCompounding the suffering of millions of people struggling to survive The world’s largest displacement crisisThe heavy rains also led to a shortage of basic medicines and commodities such as flour, cooking oil, cereals, onions, etc. in local markets, causing their prices to rise.

The conflict, which has lasted more than 16 months, has killed and injured thousands of children, forced many into child labour, destroyed health care and education, upended food systems and created the world’s worst child displacement crisis, with 6.7 million children now forced from their homes(4).

Mary Lupul, Humanitarian Director for Save the Children in Sudan, explain:

.“Our staff in Blue Nile and Gedaref states receive at least nine children a day who are in displacement camps without their parents. When I visited the IDP camp in Gedaref last month, I saw children arriving at our reception centre exhausted after horrific journeys, many showing signs of malnutrition.

“These children have been torn from their parents or guardians as their homes, hospitals, playgrounds and schools have been bombed, looted and occupied. They have lost loved ones and suffered unspeakable violence. We know that children separated from their families are at a much higher risk of violence, abuse and exploitation, including being trafficked, recruited into armed groups and subjected to sexual and gender-based violence.

“In Gedaref, Save the Children has set up a child-friendly space where the children can play and reconnect with their childhood. Here they are taking shelter from the fighting outside and receive a lot of psychosocial support from our staff. Here they have the opportunity to express their emotions through drawing, seek comfort from other children and even enjoy a game of volleyball.

“I have seen first-hand that even in the most horrific and difficult circumstances, children want to be children, and the opportunity to play and spend time with other children is so important. Yet this crisis is not getting the attention it deserves. Save the Children is calling for an immediate ceasefire, meaningful progress towards a lasting peace agreement, and for the international community to step up and provide the necessary funding and resources to protect children’s lives.”

Humanitarian aid in Sudan is severely underfunded, with donors Only 37.4% $2.7 billion UN response plan.

In early August, Save the Children warned that the number of children seeking treatment for severe acute malnutrition in Sudan has surged to unprecedented levels, with data from the aid agency showing a sharp increase in malnutrition in South Kordofan state in south-central Sudan.

(English stone)

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