Today, Tuesday, the world of humanitarian aid is celebrated.
The worst humanitarian crisis is in Sudan. The figures are stunning. More than 30 million Sudanians need humanitarian help: food, water, medicines, accommodation, health care, schools.
There are up to four million refugees in Sudan’s neighboring countries, and ten million within Sudan. Five million of refugees are children.
Sudan’s army and rebel organization RSF have been fighting power since spring 2023. In particular, RSF has committed very brutal grip on the civilian population.
Finnish Eva Hinds Has worked as Director of Communications and Influencing in UNICEF’s UN Children’s Organization for a little over a year in Sudan. The headquarters is in Port Sudan, the northeastern part of the country, on the Red Sea shore.
Before Sudanin-Pest, he has also worked for Unicef in Nigeria, Somalia and Syria. What makes him work in the midst of war and hunger?
– The crisis area happens faster. You can see very clearly how children may be in a very bad situation when they first meet. And then you can see a quick change when the kids get help, Hinds thinks.
She tells about a 12-year-old boy who met last year. The boy had been playing football when a military attack was made on the corner of the home yard, killed by two of his friends and injured many.
-There, that 12-year-old lost his innocent childhood in the blink of an eye, which would never be recovered. And there is so much of her.
Experience affects relief workers in many ways. It underlines why they are needed.
– I also feel that it is my responsibility to tell you about the situation.
Warfare changes rapidly
The same speed of change is also the worst part in the crisis. The combat lines are changing, people flee from new areas and return to their home areas, destroyed conditions.
Also from the battles in the past Port Sudan has been made May droon attacks.
– Unfortunately, the war is still in a very active phase. In many places, children are just in the war. The war also strikes civilian sites and children die or injure. No Sudan has a completely safe place to live, Hinds says.
Relief work is hampered by the fact that the routes of relief transport and the permits of the fighting parties must be repeatedly ensured.
– It’s difficult in many ways. In a way, there are no rules that would apply all the time. One cannot say that there is always a certain way here.
In the video, Eva Hinds explains how the Civil War makes it difficult to get help.
One of the most difficult destinations at the moment is Al-Fašir, a Western Sudan Darfur region. Rebels are trying to conquer the city and the blockade has been going on for months. Those residents have left that are capable of.
– The road to safety from Tawilah is dangerous. Departures are usually women who flee with their children, during the day in high heat and at night in insecure conditions. Even in Tawilah, there are not very good conditions, Hinds describes.
When there is a shortage of food, access to clean water is a problem and health care does not work, including infectious diseases and cholera.
“For example, cholera epidemic has been underway since last August and now a hundred thousand cases have been broken,” says Hinds.
At the moment, it is not in sight that Sudan’s Civil War will end. Eva Hinds reminds us that the humanitarian situation does not even correctly correct it quickly after the peace treaty.
– Even though warfare ends, the consequences of the war will follow children for a long time. It may be that they are mines. Many times they are trauma, he says.
– Or there are no services in such areas. Even if your home is still upright, it may be that there is no tap water, electricity, health services, school.
There is also an easy shortage of food, or the food is so expensive at the market that you can’t afford to buy it for children.
Sudan is not very much on the Western media. The crisis has remained in the background of the Ukraine and the Middle East for the attention of the media and politicians.
This has nasty consequences for relief organizations such as Unicef, which receive funds from states, organizations and private donors.
– In Sudan, the need for help has increased by 20 % from last year. And as early as last year, it was difficult to get funding. So the gap between needs and funding is huge and difficult to reach out, says Hinds.
– Cuts are suffering from the most vulnerable children.
