The head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Sudan has confirmed that if the war continues, the country will witness a "catastrophe for a generation," with the first victims being 24 million Sudanese children. In an interview with AFP, Mandip O'Brien stated, "The conflict in Sudan endangers the health of 24 million children and consequently the future of the country, which could have dire consequences for the entire region." She added, "The future of the country is at risk, as nearly 20 million children will not go to school this year if there is no swift action."
The devastating war between army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces chief General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has claimed more than 12,000 lives, according to a count that is believed to be very conservative from the NGO "ACLED," which specializes in tracking armed conflict casualties. The war has also caused the displacement and refugee status of over seven million people, representing "the largest displacement crisis in the world," according to the UN.
O'Brien emphasizes that among these displaced and refugees, "3.5 million are children," noting that "14 million children need urgent humanitarian assistance" in Sudan, which has a population of 48 million and has seen the war affect most regions.
