SOUTH SUDAN: 4.5 million children in humanitarian crisis

By: Ollus Ndomu

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund -UNICEF- has reported that 4.5 million South Sudan children “are in desperate need of humanitarian support”.

According to UNICEF, the ongoing humanitarian crisis is a result of conflict and climate change effects including floods and drought.

A country which celebrates its 10th anniversary this Friday, is still grappling with high child mortality rates and malnutrition.

“Hopes that independence would bring a new dawn for the country’s children have faded,” UNICEF said in a statement.

South Sudan is still recovering from decades of conflict which jaundiced the country’s economic and political growth.

Commenting on the plight of children in the country, UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore said: “The childhood of many 10-year-old children in South Sudan today has been beset by violence, crises and rights abuses.”

With an estimate of over 2.6 million children lacking access education, South Sudan entire population is in desperate need of humanitarian support.