Geneva (ICRC) – Some 300 children that were evacuated from a Khartoum orphanage a week ago are recovering in relative safety in the city of Wad Madani. However, the six weeks they endured prior to their escape were nothing short of traumatic.
In addition to losing staff who fled the fighting, the orphanage suffered from a lack of food, water and electricity. Critical infrastructure was damaged due to the fighting, and the loss of power proved fatal for many children who were particularly vulnerable, suffering from severe health conditions.
“Of course, human resources are a primary element, but the fact is, more children were lost as a result of power outages than due to food shortages,” explained Abeer Abdullah, one of the 70 orphan caregivers, from a shelter where the orphans and staff were relocated. “During those outages, high temperatures had a deadly toll on children. It was such a tough period when our lives were at great risk. You know, cooking and preparing meals and milk for children largely depends on electricity.”
The children have stayed for six weeks in the capital city, just 800 meters from the frontlines.
“Children with disabilities are among the most impacted by conflict,” Abdullah said. “I had a horrible experience that keeps haunting me. I remember one day the children were not with me at the clinic.
When I came out at the yard, they rushed to me, terrified and trembling, as I was the only person they knew there. Once I took them in, they lied on the floor trying to sleep their horrors off. They seemed seized by panic, and the moment they sensed some safety in my company, they’d try to get an hour’s rest.”
Some of the evacuated children suffer from mental health conditions, which could be exacerbated by the stressful conflict environment they were living in.
On June 7, the ICRC facilitated the evacuation following the request from the Ministry of Social Development, and in close coordination with the Ministry of Health. As a neutral intermediary, it obtained security guarantees from the parties to the conflict to ensure safe passage for the children and the orphanage staff. Upon arrival in Wad Madani, the children were transferred to the custody of the Ministry’s personnel.
Since fighting broke out in Sudan on April 15, the ICRC has been closely cooperating with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society to deliver surgical supplies to hospitals, help collect and identify mortal remains, and improve access to clean water. The two organizations have also supported families who lost contact with their loved ones. In addition, the ICRC has maintained dialogue with all the parties to facilitate medical evacuations of wounded people and remind them of their obligations under the norms of international humanitarian law.
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SHOTLIST
Location: Sudan
Camera: Ali Ahmed Ali
Filming Date: 15th June 2023
Length: 3:21
Copyright: ICRC access all
On Screen Credit: ICRC written or logo attached to story
00:00 – 00:27: Various shots of the children caregiver.
00:28 – 01:00: Soundbite: Children Caregiver Abeer Abdullah
“When the fighting erupted, the manager of the orphanage tried hard to convince the staff who were working here to stay, as she was confident they would not be replaced. Some colleagues stayed for a couple of days. But, as they were worried about their own loved ones, they had to leave eventually. It was an extremely difficult period. I believe that had those colleagues remained with us, we wouldn’t have lost those children.”
01:01 – 01:10: Shot of the children caregiver.
01:11 – 02:03: Soundbite: Children Caregiver Abeer Abdullah
“I had a horrible experience that keeps haunting me. I remember one day the children were not with me at the clinic. When I came out at the yard, they rushed to me, terrified and trembling, as I was the only person they knew there. Once I took them in, they lied on the floor trying to sleep their horrors off. They seemed seized by panic, and the moment they sensed some safety in my company, they’d try to get an hour’s rest. This is all I can remember from that time, that the kids were terrified. They needed to feel safe to get some sleep for an hour or even less.”
02:04 – 02:20: Various shots of donated items.
02:21 – 02:44: Soundbite: Children Caregiver Abeer Abdullah
“Children with disabilities are among the most impacted by conflict. From my frequent tours around the orphanage wards, I realized that members of the community weren’t adequately trained to deal with those children. That’s why we reassigned many of them to work at the clinic. There were enough nursing staff at the orphanage, and they were also working with us before the war. They were better equipped to cater to the needs for those children.”
02:45 – 03:21: Soundbite: Children Caregiver Abeer Abdullah
"Of course, human resources are a primary element, but the fact is, more children were lost as a result of power outages than due to food shortages. During those outages, high temperatures had a deadly toll on children. It was such a tough period when our lives were at great risk. You know, cooking and preparing meals and milk for children largely depends on electricity.”
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Established in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide helping people affected by conflict and armed violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war. A neutral, independent and impartial organization, its mandate stems from the Geneva Conventions of 1949.