The number of serious violations against children in Sudan, from killings to abductions, has increased by 1,000 percent after two years of civil war, UNICEF said, calling for greater global awareness, AFP reports.

The U.N. children's agency said such incidents, which also include maimings and attacks on schools and hospitals, were previously limited to a few regions.

But the ongoing nature of the conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan's army has led to them spreading to other areas.

"Two years of violence and displacement have destroyed the lives of millions of children across Sudan," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement.

"The number of grave violations against children has increased by 1000% in two years," the statement said.

For example, the number of children killed or maimed has risen dramatically from 150 confirmed cases in 2022 to an estimated 2,776 in 2023 and 2024, according to figures provided to AFP by UNICEF, which are likely underestimates.

Attacks on schools and hospitals have also increased from 33 confirmed cases in 2022 to about 181 in the previous two years.

In addition, the number of children in need of humanitarian assistance has doubled in two years, from 7.8 million in early 2023 to more than 15 million today, UNICEF says.

"Sudan is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world today, but the world is not paying attention to it," Russell said, adding, "We cannot abandon the children of Sudan."

"We have the expertise and determination to scale up our support, but we need access and sustainable funding," she said.

The war between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, first erupted in April 2023.

Since then, the conflict has left tens of thousands dead and displaced 13 million people, according to the UN.

In addition, famine has been declared in at least five locations, including the Zamzam displacement camp in Darfur, where the RPF recently established control.

With the onset of the rainy season and the risk of flooding, the situation in Sudan could deteriorate further. According to UNICEF, this year's rainy season could lead to severe acute malnutrition for 462,000 children. | BGNES