th year,
Unfortunately, the ongoing conflict between competing military forces has reached its 200th anniversary.
^th

According to a statement from the agency, children are still suffering the most from a crisis that they did not create, and the consequences are becoming more deadly for them.

Currently, there are a greater number of children who have been forced to leave their homes than in any other place globally. Approximately three million have escaped the conflict between the Government and competing armed groups, primarily within Sudan. Hundreds of thousands are seeking refuge in temporary camps located in nearby nations.

According to the agency, there is a pressing need for life-saving aid for approximately 14 million children in Sudan. These children are living in a constant state of fear, worrying about the possibility of death, injury, or being forced to join armed groups.

There are widespread accounts of sexual violence during conflicts, such as rape, particularly in areas like Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofans where fighting has escalated in the past few weeks.

UNICEF has been notified of more than 3,100 serious infractions, which include the harming and injuring of children.

The outcome of the future is uncertain.

Currently, not a single child in Sudan has been able to resume their education, leaving the fate of an entire generation uncertain. An overwhelming 19 million children in Sudan are unable to attend school.

UNICEF and its collaborators are delivering vital aid to millions of children residing in Sudan and surrounding countries. This aid includes provisions such as water, healthcare, nourishment, safe areas, and educational opportunities. However, the demand for assistance exceeds the available resources.

“We require unimpeded and secure entry for humanitarian aid in order to provide essential resources and assistance to all children in need.”

WFP has issued a malnutrition warning for South Sudan.

In nearby South Sudan, children living in areas affected by flooding are in danger of severe malnutrition during the first six months of 2024. Due to scarce food supplies and cramped living conditions, waterborne illnesses are spreading rapidly.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) stated on Monday that approximately 1.6 million children under the age of five are projected to experience malnutrition in 2024.

In Rubkona county, entire communities have been permanently flooded or left stranded on small islands since 2021, making it particularly vulnerable.

Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Representative to South Sudan, cautioned that this is the actual situation of residing in the forefront of the climate emergency.

She emphasized the detrimental impact of waterborne diseases on humanitarian efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition, with young children bearing the brunt of the consequences.

Rubkona county is facing the possibility of famine for the very first time, according to forecasts. The World Food Programme has stated that this is due to devastating floods and significant economic challenges, resulting in a staggering 120% increase in staple food prices since April of last year.

The United Nations agency also noted a projected increase in the amount of individuals experiencing extreme starvation throughout the nation to 79,000 by April, mostly as a result of South Sudanese refugees escaping conflict in Sudan.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reports that approximately 300,000 individuals have returned to their home country from Sudan in the past seven months due to ongoing conflict.

UNESCO has denounced the assault on the World Heritage site in Odesa, Ukraine.

A Russian attack once again caused damage to a cultural site under international protection in Ukraine, leading to criticism from UNESCO, the United Nations’ educational, social, and cultural agency, on Monday.

The Museum of Fine Arts located in the historic center of Odesa, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was harmed by a Russian airstrike on Sunday evening, according to the agency. This area has been targeted multiple times in the past, particularly during the summer months.

UNESCO restated the importance of safeguarding cultural sites in compliance with global regulations.

Before the most recent attack, as of November 2nd, UNESCO had confirmed damage to 327 cultural sites since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. This includes 124 religious sites and 28 museums. In the Odesa region, a total of 49 sites have been affected.

Ukraine is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. The UN agency has been supporting repairs to buildings within Odesa’s historic centre, including the fine arts museum, and has provided equipment for the digitization of some 1,000 works of art and of documents in the Odesa State Archives.

Source: news.un.org