People across Sudan are in the middle of one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with the children hit hardest by the fighting that's now in its third year.
Over 17 million Sudanese children are out of school, 5,000 have been kidnapped or missing and 3,000 children have died in the war which broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023, according to Sudan's National Council for Child Welfare.
The violence against children in Sudan has reached "extreme levels" in 2023, according to the U.N.
A U.N. report highlighted a 21 percent increase in grave violations against children in that year.
The report placed several entities on the blacklist for killing and maiming children and for carrying out attacks on schools and hospitals.
"Before the war, we had 7 million children out of school. Since the war [started], we have 17 million children who are not in schools. Again, if we looked at the data before the war, we knew that around 3 million children were acutely malnourished. Now since the war, [it's] almost close to 4 million children acutely malnourished," said Mandeep O'brien, the United Nations Children's Fund Representative to Sudan.
Child abuse has worsened since the outbreak of the war. Reports showed children have been forcibly recruited as fighters, and cases of sexual abuse and slavery have increased.
"We verified tens of cases of children who were forced by the RSF to join the conflict. Some of them have returned to their families and some were killed in the conflict and many were kidnapped. The scale of the violence is large and scary. We need huge collaboration in order to prevent a bigger crisis," said Abdelgadir Abuh, secretary general of Sudan's National Council for Child Welfare.
International efforts to mediate an end to the conflict in Sudan have not yielded much. Across the country, millions continue to suffer the impact of the continuing violence.
For children across Sudan, an end to the conflict cannot come soon enough. Every day brings with it new challenges and more suffering.
But like many children in other conflict zones, they too hope that peace will be restored in their country so that they can once again just be children and enjoy learning and playing as they used to before.
Children in Sudan struggling for survival amid health, food crises
Children in Sudan struggling for survival amid health, food crises
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
