I need not tell you that the situation in Sudan is grave, and that for countless children their lives hang in a fragile limbo, while the world at large looks on. Hunger, disease, and violence is taking the lives of more and more children every day. Some 4 million people have been affected by the war in Sudan, according to UNICEF , more than half of which are children.
War is never kind to the children in its path, but when violence reaches out to children, we have gone past war. The situation in Sudan, is not a war but a full scale genocide, which is preying on the innocence of millions of children. The children in Sudan, walk a tight rope each day, as they are under the constant threat of military violence, food and water shortages. These are children at extremely high risk for exploitation and abuse, children also have little or no healthcare or education. As an international community we cannot sit idly by any longer, we have already waited too long…we have already let too many children die.
Recently in the Southern town of Muhajiriya, attacks have taken the lives of 45 people died and have caused thousands flee their homes. The attacks where aimed mostly at women, children and the elderly, according to a rebel faction.
“The government moved forces into the town two days earlier,” Mohammed Bashir, spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), said from Khartoum, the capital. “With air cover, they attacked the town, burnt down half of it and killed mainly children, women and the elderly.” (Darfur attack “targeted women and children”)
Using children, woman or the elderly as primary targets in this violent crisis, must not be allowed to continue. As an international community we must ensure, safe and adequate refugee facilities, food security, education, suitable healthcare services, and most of all we must hold the those involved and the government of Sudan accountable. When we look to aid those children who have been caught in the Sudanese violence, we must ensure that child centered programs are created and adhered to. Programs, must meet the immediate needs of children, but also focus on their long term needs.
Save Darfur, has a great news archive on all news concerning the crisis and region, as well as other valuable resources and ways to help.
