Poverty and War Have Caused the Death of Thousands of Children in Africa - 2004-06-17

The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, states that poverty and war have led to the deaths of thousands of children in countries south of the Sahara in Africa and threaten another 60 million children. UNICEF officials have urged African governments to help create families with strong bonds of friendship to reduce the dangers threatening children. This request from UNICEF was made on Wednesday, coinciding with the celebration of Africa Child Day, which is named in memory of the massacre of hundreds of children who protested against apartheid in South Africa in 1960. UNICEF also announced on Wednesday its intention to help millions of African children return to school next academic year or attend school for the first time. Carol Bellamy, the executive director of UNICEF, states that currently 24 million children in Africa do not attend school due to discrimination, high school fees, and other factors. According to Ms. Bellamy, these children are at greater risk of disease, exploitation, and poverty. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has requested an additional $56 million to provide food and shelter for people fleeing the ongoing violence in the Darfur region of western Sudan. The High Commissioner states that this money is needed to accommodate refugees along the borders of Sudan with Chad before the rainy season begins. A United Nations spokesperson says that Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the organization, plans to visit Africa soon, during which he will also visit Sudan. Two Sudanese black groups and government-backed militias have been fighting in Darfur for over a year. This war has caused the homelessness of over a million people in the region.