JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
Sign up to receive email updates about UNICEF’s work for every child. Get a closer look at UNICEF programs in action, hear about emergency response efforts, and learn how you can help children. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore following two-day visit to conflict-ravaged South Sudan
Publication Date: 2018/01/19
JUBA/NAIROBI/NEW YORK, 19 January 2018 – “I have just spent two days in South Sudan where I saw firsthand how four years of a man-made conflict have left children sick, hungry and on the brink of death.
“The impact of the relentless violence has been devastating. I met a mother who had to walk for days to get treatment for her malnourished baby. I spoke with a young boy who was forced to join an armed group at the age of 10. I also met two siblings who were separated from their parents when fighting broke out in their town, Bentiu, in 2014.
“But amid the horror, I saw signs of hope. The malnourished child is on her way to recovery. The former child soldier is back at school and aspires to be a doctor. And today the two siblings were reunited with their mother for the first time in four years.
“UNICEF and other aid agencies are working on the ground in some of the most dangerous conditions to provide children and young people with their basic needs. This is no small feat. South Sudan is the most dangerous place in the world for humanitarians – 28 aid workers were killed last year alone – and yet we continue to help millions of children in need. Last year, working with partners, we vaccinated nearly 1.8 million children against measles, treated more 180,000 children against severe acute malnutrition, and helped 300,000 children access education.
“But this is far from enough. The fighting shows no sign of abating and the humanitarian needs are massive: 2.4 million children have been forced to flee their homes. More than a quarter of a million children are severely malnourished and at imminent risk of death. Over 19,000 children have been recruited into the conflict. At least 1 in 3 schools has been damaged, destroyed, occupied or closed. And we have documented more than 1,200 cases of sexual violence against children.
“The numbers go on and on. Together they equal an entire generation of young people denied the opportunities they so desperately need to contribute to building their society.
“As we enter the dry season, the needs – and threats – will only continue to grow. We are already seeing an increase in the number of children and families seeking help in displacement camps and we are concerned that our funding is not keeping pace.
“Only an end to hostilities can bring back hope and safety to the children and young people of South Sudan. Until then, we need unconditional, sustainable access from parties to the conflict and more resources from donors. Without these, the lives and futures of millions of children in South Sudan will continue to hang in the balance.”
Download photos, video and b-roll here: http://uni.cf/2mLw78d
About UNICEF
UNICEF is the world’s leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach spans more than 190 countries and territories, ensuring we are on the ground to help the most disadvantaged children. While part of the UN system, UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations to finance our life-saving work. Please visit unicef.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.