The numbers tell a grim story:
- Almost three million children are severely food insecure;
- more than one million are acutely malnourished;
- 2.4 million have been forced from their homes;
- two million children out of school, and if the current situation persists, only one in 13 children are likely to finish primary school;
- an estimated 900,000 children suffer from psychological distress;
- more than 19,000 children have been recruited in the ranks of armed forces and armed groups;
- and more than 2,300 children have been killed or injured since the conflict first erupted in December 2013, with hundreds of incidents of rape and sexual assault against children having been reported.
"No child should ever experience such horrors and deprivations," said Leila Pakkala, UNICEF's Regional Director in Eastern and Southern Africa, "and yet children in South Sudan are facing them on a daily basis. The children of South Sudan urgently require a peaceful and protective environment. Anything less places children and women at even greater risk of grave violations and abuse."
Getting assistance to those most in need continues to be a challenge in many insecure areas of the country. Humanitarian organisations in South Sudan are looking for the full implementation of a recent Presidential order calling for unrestricted access to those in urgent need of aid.
UNICEF has been delivering lifesaving assistance to children across the country since the crisis started in December 2013, including: treatment of more than 600,000 for severe acute malnutrition, vaccination against measles for more than 3.3 million children, the provision of primary health care services to more than 3.6 million children, and supporting access to safe water supply for 1.8 million people. This has been done despite the huge challenges faced in a country that ranks among the world's most dangerous for aid workers. Since the conflict started in 2013, 95 aid workers have been killed, including 25 killed so far this year.
In releasing Childhood under Attack, UNICEF warned that new funding is essential in order to provide critical assistance to children and women. In 2018 UNICEF requires $183 million, and currently has a funding gap of 77 per cent (or $141 million).
Notes for editors:
Photo and video assets are all available: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AM40800PZIM[1]
About UNICEF UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.
UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca[2]. For updates, follow us on Twitter[3] and Facebook[4] or visit unicef.ca[5].
SOURCE UNICEF Canada
For further information: To arrange interviews or for more information please contact: Stefanie Carmichael, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8866,
Related Links
References
- ^ https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AM40800PZIM (weshare.unicef.org)
- ^ www.unicef.ca (www.unicef.ca)
- ^ Twitter (twitter.com)
- ^ Facebook (www.facebook.com)
- ^ unicef.ca (www.unicef.ca)
- ^ Link to http://www.unicef.ca (www.unicef.ca)
Newer articles:
- Gathering at State Capitol commemorates anniversary of mass killing in South Sudan - 15/12/2017 19:40
- South Sudan’s Peace Process Needs New Thinking - 15/12/2017 13:26
- South Sudan's Kiir promotes three generals facing U.N. sanctions - 15/12/2017 09:55
- UK government must step up its support for South Sudan - 15/12/2017 09:55
- Factbox: South Sudan - the world's youngest country torn by conflict - 15/12/2017 04:55
Older news items
- South Sudan fuels Teny's tenacity - 15/12/2017 03:05
- UN Security Council warns on South Sudan peace efforts - 15/12/2017 02:38
- One last push to end South Sudan's deadly civil war - 14/12/2017 12:58
- Broke South Sudan hike fees, blocks aid despite appeal for cash - 14/12/2017 10:52
- UN Official: Peacekeepers in South Sudan Not Intervention Force - 14/12/2017 10:30
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan peace not around the corner: first vice president - 28/03/2018 15:32
- UN laments stubborn cycles of violence as South Sudan turns 10 - 22/06/2021 00:05
- over 121,000 S’Sudanese refugees arrive in Sudan – UN - 02/03/2015 17:14
- UN envoy hopes for some agreement at South Sudan peace talks - 16/02/2018 00:40
- UN envoy: South Sudan seeing military action as rains arrive - 24/05/2017 17:34
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61882 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22310 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21505 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19070 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18874 times