Over 2 mln children affected by humanitarian crisis in Chad

Over 2 million children are currently in need of urgent humanitarian aid in Chad, a country that is facing a serious humanitarian crisis, the interim representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Gianluca Flamigni said Thursday.

Flamigni said Chad has been simultaneously affected by a food and nutritional crisis, displacement of people and natural catastrophes.

"The crises and conflicts continue to inflict terrible suffering to millions of children and families in Chad. The future of an entire generation of children and youth is at stake," Flamigni said when he spoke during a ceremony to mark the International Day of the African Child.

He said there is need to accord all the necessary attention to the protection and development of children who constitute half of Chadian population.

"We are the present and future of Chad. Give us better conditions to support our growth," said Casimir Batoumai Mbaihodoum, the president of Chad Children's Parliament.

The International Day of the African Child was created by the international community in memory of the massacre of children in Soweto, South Africa, when they were demanding their rights for quality education.

Conflicts and crises in Africa are the key causes of deplorable economic conditions. The biggest number of victims are children since they are subjected to numerous deprivations that compromise their rights to education and health. Endit