UNICEF supports emergency response for children in Sudan with 89 tons of life-saving supplies

Khartoum, 18 April 2014 — Today in Khartoum airport, UNICEF received 89 tons of life-saving supplies to support the humanitarian response to children affected by emergencies in various hot spots throughout Sudan. These supplies were airlifted as Sudan faced unexpected high numbers of displaced children in the first quarter of 2014 in what is clearly another major crisis for Sudan’s children. In some cases, children account for 70 per cent or more of the newly displaced in Darfur and of the South Sudanese seeking refuge in several states throughout the country.

The high and growing number of children affected by emergencies in the Darfur region and Sudan’s southern border states has spurred UNICEF to procure and import additional water, sanitation, health, education and protection supplies to help children and their families stay alive, together, sheltered and with access to essential medicines.

From tents, tarpaulins and plastic sheeting to midwifery kits, water tanks and education kits; these supplies are sorely needed by the growing number of children displaced by various emergencies in Sudan.

Flexible funding from UNICEF’s donors made the swift procurement of supplies possible. Several Ministries – Education, Health, Water Resources among others – will play a critical role at Federal and State levels to ensure that the supplies reach the most vulnerable children.

UNICEF responds to children in need of assistance wherever they may be. This is a humanitarian imperative and a core part of our mandate, and we will continue to do it as long as needed. However, I must stress that what Sudan’s children really need is an end to all conflicts. An end to conflicts in Sudan would be the beginning of a normal childhood for displaced children in Sudan; it would give them and their families a fighting chance to create a future for themselves , said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Representative in Sudan.

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