Sudan: Every day a matter of life and death

Sudan has been shaken by a brutal war for over a year and a half. Time and again, children are caught in the crossfire and injured in the fighting. This is what happened to 8-year-old Fatima.

If you search for ‘war’ on the internet, you will be inundated with reports from all over the world. Only one country is often missing from the coverage: Sudan, where a cruel war is currently raging. Five million children have had to leave their homes and 14 million children are dependent on humanitarian aid - almost as many people live in Bavaria. What we often forget: Behind every number is a child. A child with a family and dreams. A child who has just learned how to read or is being rocked to sleep by its mother. Today I would like to tell you the story of one of these children.

Fatima's story

Fatima was having tea with her family when she felt a strong pain in her head. So strong that she began to scream and fell to the ground. A stray bullet had hit her. Samah, her mother, was beside herself with fear and ran to the neighbors for help. There are hardly any functioning hospitals where they live. The healthcare system in Sudan is on the verge of collapse, with a lack of medicines and staff.

Trauma for many children in Sudan

Samah managed to get Fatima to a hospital supported by UNICEF, where she was operated and is now recovering. Dr Maria Faisal was present during the operation and is now accompanying Fatima on her road to recovery. "It's heartbreaking to see an 8-year-old child, who should be playing and enjoying her childhood with her family, instead coming to us in distress and crying in pain", says Dr Faisal, "We see similar cases every day."

The terrible experience weighs heavily on Fatima. As soon as her mother leaves the room, she starts crying and panics. Thousands of children in Sudan have experienced similar things. Since the beginning of the war, UNICEF has been supporting the health and nutrition services at the hospital in Aljekaika, which is about 90 kilometers from Khartoum. The hospital reports a sharp increase in operations - over 200 gunshot wounds are registered every week, 25 percent of which are children.

Donate regularly - help twice as much!

We will double your sponsorship donation for six months! If you decide to become a UNICEF sponsor by 3‍1‍.1‍2‍.2‍0‍2‍4, we will double your first six monthly contributions up to a donation of €1‍0‍0‍ per month.*

With your donation, UNICEF is helping children in Sudan

The war in Sudan threatens children anew every day. Due to constant attacks on hospitals, 70 percent of health facilities are not functioning. Together with you, we support UNICEF in continuing to provide aid in Sudan!

• With 49 euros, a first aid package with bandages and medicines can be distributed.
• 170 euros can provide ten crisis packages - including a blanket and 300 water purification tablets.
• 235 euros will provide five hygiene kits for families who have been displaced by the war and no longer have a home, for example.

With your support, we can continue to provide the children from Sudan with the help they so urgently need. We guarantee: 100% of your donations will be forwarded to UNICEF.

*up to a maximum amount of 100,000 euros