A former child soldier has made a passionate plea for global action to protect Sudan’s children from the ravages of war.
Speaking to AFP on Thursday, Ishmael Beah, now a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, implored, “We can’t just leave them to it.”
Since April 2023, Sudan’s conflict between General Burhan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Nearly 11 million people have been displaced, including five million children.
The United Nations has warned of catastrophic consequences, with millions of children facing malnutrition and disease, threatening an entire generation.
During a visit to Port Sudan, Beah met displaced families whose lives have been shattered by violence.
Reflecting on his experiences in Sierra Leone as a 13-year-old child soldier, he said, “It’s devastating to see what I endured still happening today.”
Beah shared the harrowing story of a woman who fled with an orphaned child after the child’s parents were killed.
“Her courage is emblematic of the resilience I witnessed,” he said.
Yet, resilience comes with unbearable burdens. Beah recounted stories of rape, killings, and relentless displacement.
“It’s the constant walking, the fear at checkpoints, and the unimaginable violence, especially for girls,” he noted grimly.
Despite the horrors, Beah found hope in the determination of Sudanese youth.
Armed with the internet, many are eager to share their stories and demand an end to the violence.
Their message is urgent and clear: “Can the world please help to end the war? We don’t care how, but it must stop.”
Beah’s call to action is a stark reminder of the human cost of war, especially for the youngest and most vulnerable.
