Deputy representative of UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Sudan Mary Louise Eagleton has called for joint efforts from the international community to protect children in war-stricken Sudan.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Following 500 days of fighting, in addition to the mounting death toll and soaring numbers of internally displaced people, catastrophic seasonal floods have further harmed vital infrastructure. Meanwhile, disease outbreaks such as cholera and malaria are on the rise, with numerous cases of conflict-related sexual violence reported and famine ravaging some areas of the country.
"Well, Sudan is a living nightmare for its 24 million children and children are facing all sorts of protection crises as a result of this war, including recruitment into armed groups, killing and maiming of tens of thousands of children. And what we have documented is really just the tip of the iceberg. They are subject to displacement at massive levels. Over 5 million children around the country have had to flee their homes and sexual gender-based violence is really, really significantly high. Especially in the areas of active conflict where fighting is ongoing," said Eagleton.
"Having a protection force or protecting civilians is really paramount in this war and in this crisis. The levels of abuses against the population is severe as I've mentioned. And it's critical that all sides in this conflict are respecting international humanitarian law and protecting civilians," she said.
Eagleton said she expects a ceasefire and more protection forces to work along with the UN to aid civilians and help improve the humanitarian situation in Sudan.
"At UNICEF we work with all partners to protect civilians and especially children and women. Having an international protection force or some sort of neutral protection force could help civilians. But ultimately the fighting needs to stop. A ceasefire needs to happen and civilians need to be protected in this environment," said Eagleton.
Sudan's health system is "near collapse" after 16 months of war have left the country and its people facing what the UN's top health official described on Sunday as the "perfect storm of crises", which the world is largely ignoring.
UNICEF official urges int'l efforts to protect children in war-torn Sudan
UNICEF official urges int'l efforts to protect children in war-torn Sudan
Chinese cities, towns and villages are putting on dazzling light and lantern shows, staging distinctive folk customs performances, and holding festive mooncake banquets in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Tuesday.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar and dates back more than a millennium. As a festival in honor of the moon and harvest, families reunite on the occasion to admire the bright full moon, light lanterns, and share the holiday pastry of mooncakes.
In the ancient city of Kaifeng of central China's Henan Province and Jinzhou City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, popular tourist attractions and landmarks are bathed in lights, promising a mesmerizing nighttime experience for local residents and tourists alike.
Beijing's famous Beihai Park, a public park and former imperial garden, is staging performances themed around bianzhong, or Chinese chime bells which has a history of over 2,000 years.
In tourist towns and villages of Yunnan Province in the southwest, Zhejiang Province in th east and Guangdong Province in the south, lively folk and dragon dances are gathering numerous locals and tourists to join in the festivities.
Audiences are enjoying a poetry recitation show in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, and a symphony in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, respectively.
This year, Suining City in southwest China's Sichuan Province and Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the northwest, have both prepared giant freshly made mooncakes enough to treat hundreds of people at a same time. And in a village of the southwestern Chongqing Municipality, people have prepared their own mooncakes on a flour ground from their newly harvested red sorghum.
"We are filled with the joy of harvest during the merry traditional festival. The festive mood is really nice," said Liu Ya, a local of Jiangjun Village in Chongqing's Bishan District.
Elsewhere, villages in Wuyuan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, are also celebrating their harvest of red pepper by drying them on the roofs. And another village in the eastern province of Shandong has recently held a large banquet for local households to share.
Outside the mainland, colorful lanterns are also dotting the various landmarks, streets and alleyways of Hong Kong and Macao, adding to the festive joy.
Celebrations held across China to mark traditional Mid-Autumn Festival
