A generation of children “stolen” by S. Sudan’s conflict: UNICEF
December 13, 2014 (JUBA) – The future of an entire generation of children in South Sudan has been “stolen” by a year of conflict in the country, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said.
According to UNICEF, approximately 400,000 children were missing school, 12,000 reported as being used by armed forces and groups, and children were subject to violence, malnutrition and disease.
“Monday [15 December] will mark the first anniversary of the return to conflict in South Sudan. The world’s newest country, which began with so much promise three years ago still faces only a fragile peace,” UNICEF spokesperson, Sarah Crowe said in a statement adding that children in the county were daily threatened by the conflict.
Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF representative in South Sudan, said children needed peace, despite the enormous relief operation targeting hundreds of thousands of them facing the brunt of conflict.
As the end of the rainy season improves access on South Sudan’s dirt roads, UNICEF says it is pre-positioning life-saving supplies at key locations, strengthening its emergency response in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile – the three contested states where needs are most acute.
“We must seize the opportunity the dry season affords us,” said Veitch.
“Any humanitarian gains we make, however, are extremely precarious. Should the fighting intensify, as many fear, this will trigger yet more large-scale displacements, and deepen the vulnerability of already exhausted communities and their children,” he stressed.
There are fears up to 2.5 million people in South Sudan could face devastating food crisis, should its raging conflict continue unabated.
Meanwhile, UNICEF says it will need approximately $166m to fund its emergency response in 2015.
(ST)