Children Among Thousands Fleeing Fighting in Sudan: Aid Agency

Some of the children displaced by the conflict in Sudan (UN photo)

August 23, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Nearly 500 unaccompanied and separated children have arrived in Blue Nile and Gedaref states after fleeing heavy fighting that forced more people to flee for safety, an aid agency said.

Save the Children, citing figures provided by the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) said the escalation of violence in Sennar’s state capital Sinja on 29 June triggered widespread fighting which has displaced about 725,000 people, over half estimated to be children.

“Families are fleeing to Blue Nile and Gedaref states with rising numbers of children arriving without their parents,” Save the Children said in a statement.

Many of these families are reportedly being displaced for the second and third time, having sought refuge in Sinja in Sennar state after fleeing Khartoum and Gazira states earlier in the conflict.

In the statement, Save the Children said it’s child protection teams in Blue Nile and Gedaref states recorded at least 451 children between June 29 and August 14 forced to make the perilous journey to safety without their parents, the highest number they have recorded in such a short period since the conflict started in mid-April last year.

According to the children agency, at least 60,000 internally displaced people  who have made their way to Blue Nile state have been settled in more than 109 gathering sites and schools, which could delay reopening of schools in September.

The situation has reportedly been worsened by flooding and heavy rains which makes it hard to transport food

Further, ongoing heavy rains and floodings are compounding the suffering for families and cren fleeing fighting, with muddy and impassable roads making it difficult to get essential supplies, including food and medicine to people who need them.

Heavy rains have also led to scarcity of essential drugs and goods such as wheat flour, oil, cereals and onions in local markets, driving up prices.

According to the United Nations, more than 16 months of conflict have killed and injured thousands of children, forced many into child labour, destroyed healthcare and education, upended food systems, and created the world’s worst child displacement crisis.

For instance, an estimated 6.7 million children have reportedly been forced out of their homes due to.the conflict.

“Our staff in Blue Nile and Gedaref states are receiving at least nine children without their parents in camps for displaced people every day. During my visit to an IDP camp in Gedaref last month, I saw children who had endured terrifying journeys arrive at our reception centers completely exhausted and many showing signs of nutrition,” said Mary Lupul, Humanitarian Director for Save the Children in Sudan.

Aid agencies have expressed concerns that the humanitarian response for Sudan is significantly underfunded, with donors contributing just 37.4% to the a $2.7 billion UN response plan.

In early August, Save the Children warned that the number of children in Sudan seeking treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) has surged to unprecedented levels. Data from the aid agency showing a rapid spike in malnutrition in the central southern state of South Kordofan where the number of under-fives admitted with SAM in June in alone was 99% of the programme’s expected case load for the year [1].

At the same time, the Famine Review Committee of the Integrated

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

Escalation in violence in Sennar’s state capital Sinja on 29 June triggered widespread fighting which has displaced about 725,000 people, over half of whom are estimated to be children, according to data from International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) shows.

Families are fleeing to Blue Nile and Gedaref states with rising numbers of children arriving without their parents, Save the Children said. Many of these families are being displaced for the second and third time, having sought refuge in Sinja in Sennar state after fleeing Khartoum and Gazira states earlier in the conflict.

Save the Children child protection teams in Blue Nile and Gedaref states have recorded at least 451 children between June 29 and August 14 forced to make the perilous journey to safety without their parents, the highest number they have recorded in such a short period since the conflict started in April 2023.

At least 60,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) who have made their way to Blue Nile state have been settled in more than 109 gathering sites and schools, which could delay reopening of schools in September.

Further, ongoing heavy rains and floodings are compounding the suffering for families and children fleeing fighting, with muddy and impassable roads making it difficult to get essential supplies, including food and medicine to people who need them.

The interior ministry this month reported heavy rainfall across different parts of the country killing at least 68 people, increasing the suffering for millions of people struggling to survive in the world’s largest displacement crisis. The heavy rains have also led to a scarcity of essential drugs and goods such as wheat flour, oil, cereals and onions. in the local markets, driving up prices.

More than 16 months of conflict have killed and injured thousands of children, forced many into child labour, destroyed healthcare 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 of Save the Children in Sudan, said:

“Our staff in Blue Nile and Gedaref states are receiving at least nine children without their parents in camps for displaced people every day. During my visit to an IDP camp in Gedaref last month I saw children who had endured terrifying journeys arrive at our reception centres, completely exhausted and many showing signs of malnutrition..

“These children have seen their homes, hospitals, playgrounds and schools bombed, looted and occupied, and have been separated from their parents or guardians. They’ve lost loved ones and been subject to unspeakable violence. We know that children who have been separated from families are at much higher risk of violence, abuse and exploitation, including trafficking, recruitment into armed groups and sexual and gender-based violence.

“In Gedaref, Save the Children has put up a child friendly space where children can play and be children again. They are sheltered from the fighting happening outside this place and receive lots of psychosocial support from our staff. Here, they have a chance to express their emotions through drawing, find comfort in other children and even enjoy a game of volleyball.

“What I personally witnessed is that children even in the most dire and trying of circumstances want to be children and the opportunity to play and be 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 and meaningful progress towards a lasting peace agreement as well as for the international community to step up and release the necessary funding and resources to protect children’s lives.”

The humanitarian response for Sudan is significantly underfunded, with donors contributing just 37.4% to a $2.7 billion UN response plan.

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

(ST)