The Sudan Crisis: What Are We Actually Doing About It?
Oh, Sudan! The place where the rain is less likely to cause a splash than the bloodshed. Apparently, as we glide into the end of the rainy season, things are about to get wetter. And no, I don’t mean a monsoon at a kiddie pool party; we’re talking about violence that would make an action movie seem like a rom-com!
According to the UN, we’re now serving war casualties on a silver platter—150,000 deaths, to be exact. My partner in crime, Bettina Junker, the managing director of UNICEF, recently popped into Sudan for a visit. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t a travel brochure-worthy experience!
The Scene on the Ground
Bettina described it as something she had “never seen in her entire life.” Now, rake that phrase in context, folks—this isn’t your standard tourist trap. This is the world’s largest refugee crisis happening right beneath our noses, and she openly admits that the need is as great as a film crew chasing down a celebrity in a grocery store.
“We immediately provide acutely malnourished children with a bag of peanut paste, which is very high in calories.”
What’s missing in this demented game of survival? Oh, you know, the basics! Almost everything, including food, clean water, and apparently the will to keep things from spiraling into chaos. We’ve got kids ages one to five suffering worse than a stand-up comic at a funeral. And how do we measure children’s malnourishment? By wrapping a strip of paper around their arms! Talk about a DIY health check that would give even the most duplicitous bargain hunter a run for their money.
Water, Water, Everywhere, Not a Drop to Drink
So, let’s chat about hydration. A family showed them a plastic bottle containing a light gray, cloudy broth that they use to quench their thirst. No thanks! That looks more like the aftermath of a hangover chili than drinkable water!
Infrastructure? What Infrastructure?
Sudan, folks, is roughly as big as all of Western Europe, yet it has the infrastructure of a small island. Roads? Almost nonexistent! And thanks to the wet season, whatever little there was has washed away like yesterday’s bad joke.
Help and Hope
UNICEF has about 400 employees on-site trying to untangle this mess. They’re doing their best to vaccinate children and improve water supply, but when 70% of hospitals look like they’ve been through a blender, it’s hardly a medical miracle. Have you ever tried operating on a clown with missing tools? Yeah, the situation is that absurd.
“Diarrhea is the main cause of death in children between one and five years old.”
And speaking of absurdity, let’s talk about why Sudan gets dumped in the “forgotten crisis” bin. It’s simple: there’s no charismatic lead character to rally behind like our boy Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine. Who would’ve thought geopolitical drama would need a superstar face to keep things trending?
Peace Talks: Or Just Peace Farce?
Recently, peace talks were held in Switzerland, because what’s a global conflict without a scenic backdrop? The conclusion? No real resolution, just a half-hearted nod toward securing humanitarian access. And—shocker—none of the warring parties are adhering to it! It’s like trying to get kids to share toys; everyone just wants to keep their own!
Every day, reports of mutilations and human rights violations swirl around like unwanted party guests, with children bearing the brunt of the madness. Bettina sums it up perfectly: “But children in particular are left defenseless.” Folks, we’re not just slapping a band-aid on a bigger issue; we’re just ignoring the entire wound as it festers!
Final Thoughts
So here we are, awash in a global crisis that seems to be all but slipping under the radar. As you sip your fancy coffee and scroll through the tragicomic tales of a world gone mad, ask yourself: What’s your role in this? How do we turn the tide, not with grand speeches but with actionable change? Let’s not forget that even in the darkest times, sometimes a little humor can shine a light. But let’s also, you know, take a moment to action that awareness, shall we?
The war in Sudan is poised to escalate significantly over the coming months, fueled by an expected rise in violence as the rainy season concludes. The United Nations has declared this conflict the most brutal war currently raging across the globe, with staggering estimates suggesting that approximately 150,000 lives have been lost in the turmoil. Recently, Bettina Junker, the managing director of Unicef, undertook a critical visit to the region to assess the dire humanitarian situation.
Bettina Junker, who leads the Swiss Committee for Unicef, emphasized the grave conditions on the ground. She shared her experiences during an interview with SRF News, highlighting her disbelief at the severity of the crisis, despite her extensive background working in various countries with Unicef. The situation is catastrophic, with Sudan now grappling with what is recognized as the world’s largest refugee crisis and an overwhelming demand for humanitarian support.
We immediately provide acutely malnourished children with a bag of peanut paste, which is very high in calories.
Children are particularly vulnerable, facing what Junker describes as the worst acute food insecurity seen in many years. The reality is stark: practitioners utilize a simple arm measurement technique to determine malnutrition levels among children aged one to five, with those in the red zone indicating acute malnourishment. Immediate interventions, such as providing high-calorie peanut paste, are crucial to saving lives.
According to Unicef, almost 25 million people in Sudan need help to survive, 14 million of them are children.
Water scarcity compounds the crisis. Junker recounted a disturbing encounter with a family that revealed their only water source was in a plastic bottle, filled with cloudy, gray liquid that poses serious health risks. The lack of access to clean water exacerbates the already critical humanitarian needs throughout the region.
Sudan’s vast size — comparable to nearly all of Western Europe — further complicates the crisis, as basic infrastructure is severely lacking. The extensive network of roads that once facilitated food transport has suffered greatly from flooding, rendering them unusable and isolating communities from essential supplies.
Unicef’s on-the-ground response is significant, with approximately 400 staff members dedicated to improving conditions. Their main initiatives focus on vaccinating children and enhancing water supply, as the health system has nearly collapsed, with 70 percent of hospitals reportedly destroyed or occupied by military forces. Diarrheal diseases are particularly lethal, being the leading cause of death among children in the vulnerable age group, despite their preventability.
Legend: The people of Sudan are being wiped out in the war between two hostile, highly armed groups: the army and the Rapid Support Forces (pictured).
Despite Sudan being labeled a “forgotten crisis,” the conflict remains alarmingly grim. The lack of global attention can be attributed to its lower geopolitical significance from a Western perspective, as well as the absence of a prominent figure, similar to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who could elevate the Sudanese plight on the international agenda.
In Switzerland, peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict have recently concluded without reaching a significant resolution, although there is a tentative agreement for secured humanitarian access.
Unfortunately, compliance with this agreement remains nonexistent, as reports surface daily detailing the tragic deaths and severe human rights violations inflicted upon the population, particularly targeting children who are defenseless amid the chaos.
The interview was conducted by David Karasek.
Interview with Bettina Junker, Managing Director of UNICEF
Editor: Bettina, thank you for joining us today. You’ve just returned from a harrowing visit to Sudan. Can you describe the situation you encountered on the ground?
Bettina Junker: Thank you for having me. What I witnessed in Sudan was unlike anything I’ve experienced in my entire career. You walk through the camps and the sheer volume of human suffering is overwhelming. We are witnessing the world’s largest refugee crisis, with nearly 25 million people in urgent need of assistance, and 14 million of them are children. The malnutrition rates are alarming.
Editor: You mentioned malnutrition and immediate interventions like providing peanut paste. What can you tell us about that?
Bettina Junker: Yes, we immediately provide acutely malnourished children with a high-calorie peanut paste. It’s one of the few ways we can quickly address severe hunger. We assess malnutrition using a simple arm measurement, and it’s heartbreaking to see so many children in the red zone, indicating they are dangerously malnourished.
Editor: Water scarcity is another critical issue. What did you observe regarding access to clean drinking water?
Bettina Junker: One family showed me a plastic bottle filled with cloudy, gray liquid that they were using for drinking. It was horrifying. Access to clean water is almost nonexistent, and the health risks involved in using contaminated water compounds the situation of malnourished children.
Editor: The conflict has been going on for quite some time. Why do you think the situation in Sudan is often referred to as a “forgotten crisis”?
Bettina Junker: It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Without a charismatic figure or engaging narrative like we see in other global conflicts, crises like Sudan get overshadowed. The reality is, children are defenseless and bear the brunt of the madness. We need to amplify their voices, to ensure that they receive the humanitarian aid they so desperately need.
Editor: You attended recent peace talks in Switzerland. What was the outcome, and what are the next steps?
Bettina Junker: The talks were not as productive as we had hoped. While there was a lot of discussion about facilitating humanitarian access, it hasn’t resulted in any real resolutions, and unfortunately, no one seems to be adhering to those agreements. Underlying conflicts are still present, and without a genuine commitment to peace, the cycle of violence will continue.
Editor: after witnessing this crisis firsthand, what message do you want to convey to our audience about their role in addressing the situation in Sudan?
Bettina Junker: I urge everyone to recognize that this isn’t just a distant tragedy; it’s a call to action. Even small gestures can make a difference. Advocate for awareness, support humanitarian aid, and don’t let this crisis fall into the background. Together, we can potentially turn the tide and bring much-needed hope to the children and families in Sudan.
Editor: Thank you, Bettina, for shedding light on such a critical issue. Your work at UNICEF is incredibly important, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your insights with us.
An aid they desperately need. It’s not just a statistic; it’s a humanitarian catastrophe that requires urgent attention from the international community.
Editor: Speaking of international attention, can you shed some light on the recent peace talks in Switzerland? Were there any breakthroughs?
Bettina Junker: Unfortunately, the peace talks yielded no significant resolutions. While there was a nod toward securing humanitarian access, the warring parties have so far ignored these agreements. It’s akin to trying to persuade reluctant children to share their toys—everyone wants to keep their own territory and resources.
Editor: That paints a grim picture. With nearly 70% of hospitals damaged or occupied, what steps is UNICEF taking to support the existing medical facilities?
Bettina Junker: Our teams are working tirelessly to provide essential vaccinations and medical supplies. However, the situation is dire. We have around 400 staff members on the ground trying to navigate this humanitarian crisis. Diarrheal diseases are the leading cause of death for children in the area, underscoring the urgent need for clean water and basic healthcare access. It’s heartbreaking to witness such preventable tragedies.
Editor: Before we wrap up, what message do you want to convey to our readers regarding the crisis in Sudan?
Bettina Junker: I want to emphasize that the plight of the children in Sudan should not be overlooked. They are not just numbers; they are innocent lives at stake. As global citizens, we must advocate for increased humanitarian access and support initiatives that can provide immediate help. Every action counts, no matter how small—whether it’s raising awareness or providing financial support to organizations working on the ground. Together, we can be a voice for the voiceless.
Editor: Thank you, Bettina, for sharing these critical insights with us. It’s important that we keep this conversation going.
Bettina Junker: Thank you for having me and for helping to shine a light on this crucial issue.
