UNICEF confirms at least 190 children killed and 1,700 injured by the armed conflict in Sudan

May 5. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that at least 190 children have died and 1,700 have been injured since the outbreak, on April 15, of fighting between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces ( RSF); that is, a child has been killed or injured for every hour of conflict in the African country.

The director general of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, has specified however that right now it is impossible to confirm an approximate number of deaths. Despite the new truce declared this week, Sudanese media have been reporting sporadic fighting in the capital Khartoum and its sister city of Omdurman all Friday.

“We are unable to confirm the estimates due to the intensity of the violence,” Russell said, before warning that the African country “is heading towards catastrophe” and that children are bearing the brunt of this tragedy.

UNICEF, in this sense, has denounced that Sudanese children are right now “in the line of fire” and reminds the two sides in the conflict that they have a duty to protect the lives of the civilian population, and minors in particular.

“This includes the cessation of all attacks on health centres, schools and hygiene and water supply infrastructure,” Russell added.

A “MUCH WORSE” REALITY

UNICEF spokesman James Elder reiterated, at a press conference this Friday, that the UN agency’s estimates are at the most conservative extreme since this balance includes only those children who have been killed or injured near a medical center that has been able to register minors as patients or deceased.

Given the devastation and chaos that reigns right now in big cities like Khartoum or Omdurman, “the reality is probably much worse,” he said.