UNICEF Executive Director Urges Urgent Action at UN Security Council to Address Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis.
New York:
In a powerful address to the United Nations Security Council, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell called for urgent action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, now considered the largest and most devastating in the world. Speaking at the briefing, Russell emphasized the dire situation in Sudan, where nearly two-thirds of the population, or over 30 million people, are in desperate need of humanitarian aid.
With the conflict now in its second year, Russell highlighted the overwhelming impact on children, who represent 16 million of the affected population. In her remarks, she warned of widespread famine, ongoing violence, and the collapse of Sudan’s health and social services systems. “Famine is occurring in hotspots in at least five locations, affecting over 1.3 million children under five,” she said, while also noting that more than 3 million children are at risk of disease outbreaks like cholera, malaria, and dengue. Additionally, 16.5 million school-aged children are out of school, exacerbating the crisis for an entire generation.
Russell detailed the violence against children, reporting over 900 incidents of grave violations, including killings, maimings, and the use of children by armed groups. She also addressed the rampant sexual violence, noting an 80 percent increase in the number of women, girls, and increasingly boys, at risk of sexual violence, with 221 reported cases of rape against children in 2024 alone.
She called on the Security Council to take immediate steps to protect children and provide humanitarian access, urging the protection of aid workers and the unimpeded movement of supplies. She further highlighted the need for increased international funding, with UNICEF estimating that $1 billion will be required in 2025 to support 8.7 million vulnerable children in Sudan.
Russell concluded her remarks with a call for the halting of all military support to the warring parties, and for immediate humanitarian pauses to allow aid delivery. “We cannot allow this crisis to overwhelm Sudanese society any further,” she warned, stressing that without immediate action, the situation would lead to a generational catastrophe.
The Security Council has yet to make any decisions on the course of action, but Russell’s address serves as a critical reminder of the urgent need for international support and intervention to mitigate the suffering in Sudan.
