Starting on Saturday, the Budapest China town hosted a two-day Spring Festival celebration, bringing traditional Chinese performances, delicacies and culture to the city, and attracting locals to try all kinds of activities from the east. The "Happy Chinese New Year" Temple Fair brought together thousands of artists and visitors from the East and the West to welcome the approaching 2025 Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year on Jan 29.
"The reason why we are here is that we are very much interested in Chinese culture, tradition and music," said a visitor. With dragon and lion dances, as well as traditional Chinese operas performed, Chinese music and dances are among the most popular forms of entertainment, especially for children. "My children love Chinese culture, so I've taken them here," said a mother with two kids. "I think this is awesome, and the music is the most attractive part. It is worth a visit," added her daughter. Many families reached the place early in the morning to find the best positions to enjoy the shows and events, which provides local people a chance to learn about Chinese traditions. "Since the temple fair's opening this morning, we have been here with the family members and our little boy loves everything here, particularly the music and dance," said a father. "We know that every Chinese Lunar Year is connected with a different animal, and as far as I know, this year is a Year of the Snake," said his wife. Every Chinese Lunar New Year ushers in a new reigning animal representing one of the 12 zodiac signs on the Chinese lunar calendar, with 2025 being a Year of the Snake.
Among all the visitors, István Jakab, deputy speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, guested the fair, and shared his best wishes for China-Hungary relations. "The friendship between China and Hungary has been a legend, and the future is bright and beautiful. Till now, the cooperation between the two countries has been productive, and we are confident we will seek closer cooperation in the future. Gong Xi Fa Cai [Wish You Great Fortune]," said Jakab. "Gong Xi Fa Cai (Wish You Great Fortune)," he added, extending best New Year wishes in Chinese.
Chinese New Year fair opened in Budapest to mark upcoming Spring Festival
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered a humanitarian crisis, leaving millions in Sudan, especially women and children, struggling with food insecurity, displacement, and violence.
The armed conflict that erupted in Sudan in mid-April 2023 has been ongoing for nearly two years, creating a severe humanitarian disaster in the country. A recent report released by the United Nations indicates that by 2025, more than 15 million women in Sudan will require humanitarian assistance.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)'s report -- "Sudan: Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 - Overview" -- highlights that Sudanese women and children are disproportionately affected by the conflict, facing more acute challenges such as food shortages, survival crises, and the risk of gender-based violence.
The report reveals that approximately 24.6 million people in Sudan are in a state of "severe food insecurity" or worse, with women and children being particularly vulnerable. They face greater difficulties in accessing food, drinking water, healthcare, and ensuring their personal safety.
"Life is so hard. We don't have clean drinking water, and the water supply in grocery stores has also been cut off. We are short of food and water, and we are in despair. The prices of everything are continuously rising," said Sakina Ahmed, a resident.
Due to the severe damage and shortages in healthcare facilities, the situation for pregnant women and newborns in Sudan is dire. According to data from Sudan's Ministry of Health, 295 out of every 100,000 pregnant women die, and 51 out of every 1,000 newborns die.
Additionally, Sudan's education system has been severely disrupted by the conflict. Over 10,000 schools have been closed as a result of the fighting, and more than 90 percent of the 19 million school-age children are unable to access formal education, with girls being particularly affected by school dropouts, the report said.
"I was an eighth-grade student, but because of the conflict, I've been out of school for one year and four months," said Asrar Essam.
According to a statement by the UN resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, the armed conflict, along with the resulting mass displacement of people and widespread food insecurity, has led to a significant increase in gender-based violence, including sexual assaults.
The UN has called on Sudan to establish non-violent response mechanisms and strengthen accountability systems to safeguard the safety and dignity of all vulnerable groups. Most importantly, the UN has emphasized the urgent need to end the armed conflict and restore peace and stability.
Women, children face dire struggles amid ongoing Sudan armed conflict