UN declares Sudan war the world's worst humanitarian crisis: 30 million need aid, 16 million of them children

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has evolved into the world's most severe humanitarian emergency, affecting 30 million individuals requiring assistance in 2024, including 16 million children facing severe conditions, as reported by the UN children's agency chief on Thursday.
Catherine Russell informed the UN Security Council about the devastating impact on children in Sudan, who are experiencing severe hardship and violence amidst the continuing conflict.
Approximately 1.3 million children reside in famine-stricken areas, with predictions indicating that 770,000 children will face severe acute malnutrition this year, potentially leading to fatalities without intervention.
The conflict erupted in April 2023 in Khartoum due to escalating tensions between military and paramilitary leadership, subsequently spreading to other regions, including Darfur.
The death toll has reached at least 20,000, likely higher, whilst over 14 million people have been displaced from their homes.
According to the Unicef executive director, killings and maimings constituted 80% of more than 900 serious incidents against children documented in the latter half of 2024, primarily in Darfur, Khartoum and Gezira province.
Sexual violence has become widespread, with 12.1 million women and girls, and increasingly men and boys, at risk - an 80% rise from the previous year.
Unicef's analysis revealed 221 reported cases of child rape across nine provinces in 2024, with 67% female and 33% male victims. Notably, 16 victims were under five years old, including four infants under one year.
Christopher Lockyear of "Doctors Without Borders" witnessed both sides intensifying civilian suffering, with government forces conducting indiscriminate bombings whilst the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias perpetrating systematic violence and infrastructure destruction.
The Security Council's resolutions require practical implementation through a new agreement protecting civilians and ensuring unhindered humanitarian access, supported by accountability measures.
Unicef requires $1 billion in 2024 to support 8.7 million vulnerable children in Sudan. Lockyear expressed concern that the Trump administration's decision to reduce aid would likely worsen the humanitarian conditions faced by the Sudanese population.