UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell's remarks at UN Security Council meeting on Sudan

NEW YORK, 13 March 2025 – “Excellencies, colleagues, thank you for inviting me to speak here today.

“I’d like to express my appreciation to Denmark and to the United Kingdom for convening and hosting this briefing during Denmark’s presidency of the Security Council. I’d also like to acknowledge my colleague from MSF who do such great work in Sudan and other very difficult places around the world.

“The need for this discussion could not be more urgent.

“Nearly two years into the conflict, Sudan is now the largest and the most devastating humanitarian crisis in the world.

“With its economy and social services system and infrastructure in near collapse, and no end to the conflict in sight, we estimate that nearly two thirds of Sudan’s total population — more than 30 million people — will require humanitarian assistance this year.

“16 million of them are children — and they are paying a terrible price.

“Famine is occurring in hotspots in at least five locations in Sudan, with an estimated 1.3 million children under five living in these areas.

“Over 3 million children under five are at imminent risk of deadly disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria, and dengue, due to a failing health system.

“16.5 million school-aged children — nearly an entire generation — are out of school.

“This is not just a crisis, it is a poly-crisis affecting every sector, from health and nutrition to water, education, and protection.

“Excellencies,

“Children in Sudan are enduring unimaginable suffering and horrific violence. The last time I was in Sudan I met with families and children who are living through this nightmare. Their stories are heartbreaking — and demand immediate action.

“The fighting is happening right at their doorsteps, around their homes, their schools and hospitals, and across many of Sudan’s cities, towns, and villages.

“UNICEF continues to receive alarming reports of grave violations against children trapped in this conflict, including their recruitment and use by armed groups.

“Between June and December 2024, more than 900 incidents of grave violations against children were reported — with a staggering 80 per cent involving the killing and maiming of children, primarily in Darfur, Khartoum, and Al Jazirah States. Sadly, we know these numbers are just a fraction of the reality.

“Over the course of just two days in February, 21 children were reported killed and 29 children maimed by shelling in Kadugli, South Kordofan State … another 11 children were reported killed when a livestock market was shelled in El Fasher, North Darfur State … and 8 more children were reported killed and 6 maimed when a market was shelled in Khartoum.

“The widespread use of explosive weapons also continues to proliferate — with a devastating impact on children.

“These weapons will not disappear when the conflict ends. Weapon contamination will continue to threaten children and all civilians, especially internally displaced people and those returning to their homes, their schools and their communities. We estimate that 13 million civilians are at risk.

“And the proliferation of these weapons also prevents safe access for humanitarians trying to reach them.

“Excellencies,

“In this conflict, we are also seeing a breakdown of the rule of law and outright impunity for horrific harm to children.

“In Sudan today, sexual violence is pervasive. It is used to humiliate, dominate, disperse, forcibly relocate, and terrify an entire population.

“Right now, an estimated 12.1 million women and girls — and increasingly men and boys — are at risk of sexual violence. This is an 80 per cent increase from the previous year.

“According to data analyzed by UNICEF and collected by service providers in Sudan, 221 cases of rape against children were reported in 2024 in nine states. We estimate that 67 per cent of these children are girls and 33 per cent are boys.

“In 16 of the recorded cases, the children were under the age of five. Four were babies under the age of one.

“The data only gives us a glimpse into what we know is a far larger, more devastating crisis.

“Survivors and their families are often unwilling or unable to come forward due to challenges in accessing services, fear of social stigma, or the risk of retribution.

“Their powerful stories demand action. One girl told us how, when alone in Khartoum after the death of her parents, she was raped by four armed, masked men. Even after enduring so much other horror, she described this as “the greatest hardship” she had faced.

“The trauma these children experience and the deep scars it leaves behind do not end with the signing of a ceasefire or a peace agreement. They will need ongoing care and support to heal and rebuild their lives.

“Excellencies,

“The scale and gravity of this crisis requires urgent conflict de-escalation and unrestricted humanitarian access, both across borders and conflict lines, to fight and mitigate famine, and to meet the immediate needs of millions of vulnerable people.

“Humanitarian actors face frequent impediments in obtaining the necessary permits for the delivery of supplies in areas affected by armed conflict. The frontlines continue to be fluid. Avenues that are open today, may be closed tomorrow.

“Humanitarian actors must be ready to seize all crossline, cross-border opportunities to be able to deliver lifesaving supplies across the country.

“Unfortunately, parties have not mutually agreed on common routes through conflict lines for the delivery of aid, especially to the areas most impacted by the conflict. This lack of agreement means that aid organizations can seek safety and security guarantees only on an ad-hoc basis, reducing aid flow and preventing children and their families from accessing the basics they need to survive.

“It should come as no surprise that food insecurity and malnutrition are spiking in all the places cut off from humanitarian aid.

“More than 770,000 children are expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition this year — many in areas that we struggle to reach. Without lifesaving aid, many of these children will die.

“And humanitarian workers in Sudan, as they are all over the world, are at risk of attack, injury, and death themselves.

“Since the start of the conflict in Sudan, more than 110 aid workers have been killed, wounded, kidnapped or remain missing or unaccounted for. We need your voices to ensure the protection of aid workers and community-based groups working in Sudan.

“Despite these enormous challenges, UNICEF continues to respond wherever and however we can — delivering lifesaving supplies and services in conflict hotspots, supporting displaced people and host communities, and building resilience.

“To share only a few examples of our ongoing efforts to meet escalating humanitarian needs, in 2024, UNICEF and our partners reached over 9.8 million children and families with safe drinking water.

“We screened 6.7 million children for malnutrition and provided lifesaving treatment to 422,000 severely malnourished children.

“We delivered mental health counseling, education, and protection services to 2.7 million children and caregivers.

“These interventions are critical, but they are by no means enough to protect the children of Sudan — and the future of Sudan.

“The scale and gravity of this crisis require an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of a political dialogue that can finally bring an end to the conflict, in line with UN Security Council resolution 2724.

“If this cannot be achieved immediately, temporary humanitarian pauses and localized ceasefires must be pursued urgently so we can reach children in conflict hot spots and hard-to-reach places, address famine and respond to protection needs.

“Excellencies,

“I want to close with four urgent requests to this Council:

“First, the world must stand united in calling for the protection of children and the infrastructure they depend on to survive — in line with international humanitarian law, human rights law, and basic humanity.

“Parties must stop the violence, including sexual violence against children — putting in place measures to hold all perpetrators accountable and committing to action plans with the UN to end and prevent further grave violations against children.

“Documenting cases of violence and sexual violence is a critical step towards justice and remedy. But humanitarian actors, Sudanese civil society, and local volunteers face threats for denouncing or documenting human rights violations. These heroes must be protected.

“Second, we call on this council to engage with and pressure all parties to ensure rapid, unimpeded, and safe movement of humanitarian workers and supplies across conflict lines and cross-border through all entry points.

“We cannot reach children in desperate need and reverse famine when bureaucratic and administrative impediments stand in our way.

“For example, humanitarian access via the Aweil border crossing to reach East Darfur and West Kordofan is critical. We need your voices to ensure the UN can safely re-establish its offices in Zalingei, Central Darfur and Kadugli, South Kordofan.

“We also call on this council to re-establish and facilitate the permanent presence of the UN and partners in areas of most critical need.

“Third, we urgently call for the halt of all military support to the parties — and we again call on all Member States to leverage their power and influence to prevent further escalation of violence.

“Ensuring that parties respect and comply with international laws and facilitating political dialogue are the only way to put an end to this conflict — and to give hope for a lasting peace to the millions of Sudanese devastated by this war.

“Finally, we ask this Council to call on donors to ensure that UNICEF and all other humanitarian organizations can stay and deliver for children in Sudan. Only a massive mobilization of resources can save their lives and futures. UNICEF Sudan estimates that it will need US$1 billion in 2025 to deliver lifesaving support to 8.7 million vulnerable children.

“Now, more than ever, flexible funding is essential to ensure humanitarian actors’ ability to respond quickly during emerging crises, and to sustain the services children need to survive, especially nutrition, water and sanitation, child protection, health, and education.

“These investments are urgently needed to prevent the further collapse of critical social service systems in Sudan.

“Without these urgent actions, this crisis will further overwhelm Sudanese society and the suffering will increase exponentially, resulting in a generational catastrophe that threatens the future of Sudan, the region, and beyond.

“Excellencies,

“As a neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian actor, UNICEF remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance and protection to all children in need across Sudan and in neighboring countries. We are counting on you to help us in this critically important work. And the children of Sudan are counting on all of us.

“I thank you again for the opportunity to address you today”

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Notes for editors:

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