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The next is the transcript of the interview with UNICEF Govt Director Catherine Russell that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Dec. 21, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: UNICEF warns that greater than 200 million youngsters would require humanitarian help within the coming yr. The most important disaster proper now’s Sudan. Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Govt Director is simply again from Sudan and South Sudan. Good morning to you.
CATHERINE RUSSELL: Good morning, Margaret, how are you?
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am nicely, however you are- we wish to draw consideration right here to these in want. And I do know Secretary of State Marco Rubio, simply on Friday, referred to as for a cessation of hostilities. He mentioned the U.S. is pushing for humanitarian truce to permit a few of these assist organizations to function. However assist convoys have been struck on their means in, he additionally acknowledged. What sort of challenges are you going through?
RUSSELL: Effectively, Sudan is, at this second, the biggest humanitarian disaster we’re going through. And there are a lot of issues taking place there. One is that youngsters, specifically, however individuals are on the transfer. Hundreds of thousands of individuals are transferring across the nation. We have now starvation, excessive starvation, together with famine designated in sure components of the nation. We’re additionally seeing simply horrific ranges of violence- excuse me, together with rape, together with in opposition to youngsters. UNICEF did a report about that a couple of yr in the past, even youngsters underneath the age of 1. Completely horrible tales. And a girl I met in Chad who had fled Darfur informed me in regards to the effort to kind of rape girls in entrance of their households and their communities, actually attempting to terrorize them and videotaping it to humiliate them. And so the degrees of violence are horrific. We have now youngsters out of faculty. So the underside line right here is that the wants are huge. The challenges are simply completely staggering. And I believe the world wants to come back collectively. , within the brief time period, for certain, we want higher humanitarian entry. We have to attain all of those communities, that is exhausting to do proper now. However the fact is Margaret that what I heard from youngsters throughout Sudan was the identical factor, which is, I might say to them, , what do you consider? What would you like? And so they all mentioned the identical factor, which is, we wish peace. I believe they perceive that the one reply right here, actually, is to unravel the political issues so that individuals can get again to some kind of a good life.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, I simply, I do not wish to let go what you simply talked about, by way of why one thing like that will be accomplished to youngsters and to girls in entrance of their households. The time period genocide is utilized in Sudan. What you’re describing there by way of remedy of gender primarily based violence, it feels like you’re saying that’s an try to destroy a society by finishing up rape.
RUSSELL: I imply, there are positively atrocities which can be supposed to terrorize communities, to power them to maneuver, to scare them. And , they’re efficient methods for certain. And I believe the world wants to have a look. I imply, Sudan, I do know it appears so distant, and it’s in some ways, however additionally it is a spot the place youngsters are struggling so enormously. And I believe particularly, , now we’re within the vacation season, , you wish to take into consideration, , folks being with their households all the remainder of it. I imply, youngsters in so many locations are not- will not be having these kind of luxuries. They’re actually struggling. And I believe the world wants to concentrate to that. And I commend, , Senator Rubio- Secretary Rubio, now for pointing this out, as a result of I believe the important thing factor right here is that we want consideration to the issue.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, the U.S. has traditionally been the biggest donor to UNICEF, however we have seen super cuts by this administration, together with a $142 million claw again of congressionally authorized funds. Secretary Rubio mentioned nobody died from these assist cuts, and on Friday, he mentioned he is very pleased with the adjustments that had been made in international assist. Inform us what the truth is of the funding cuts.
RUSSELL: The funding cuts are difficult. And I believe the problem to know is it isn’t simply the US. It is nearly each donor to- definitely to UNICEF, however to the UN system broadly, and to the humanitarian sector. And so if you add all of these collectively, the impacts are actually dramatic, as a result of it implies that what- what monetary help we do get, now we have to unfold now over- over extra locations, and with much less help from- from donor international locations. So I believe there are, definitely, , there have been and can in all probability all the time be catastrophes that we’re attempting to take care of, and kids are struggling. America has all the time proudly led, I believe, on humanitarian response and on serving to youngsters. And, , we’re hopeful that a few of the cash that has been taken again might be restored to us. We proceed to work with the State Division. There are efforts to fund numerous the humanitarian and kind of life saving work that we do. However actually, , the wants all over the world are simply completely huge, and it is the US and different donors who’ve to come back in behind that, together with the personal sector, I’ve so as to add that that can also be essential.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And I ought to level out that the U.S. is among the largest international assist donors to South Sudan, however that international assist can also be underneath risk at this second due to the federal government not complying with what the U.S. is demanding. Let me quickly–
RUSSELL: –South Sudan is a problem. I used to be simply there too, and that’s, , the federal government there must do a greater job
MARGARET BRENNAN: Shortly earlier than I allow you to go. Gaza, how are issues bettering?
RUSSELL: Effectively, once more, I might say, because of the ceasefire and the administration right here was crucial on doing that, issues have gotten a bit higher. We’re capable of transfer round higher. However, , there’s super distress. The challenges stay. We have now numerous work that should get accomplished. I imply, you’ve got seen the entire photographs, the destruction. , we nonetheless have critical level- ranges of malnutrition. We are attempting to get shelter in place. , there’s rain and simply distress for kids throughout. So I believe, , I might say there positively is progress with the ceasefire. God keen that holds, after which we will proceed to get increasingly assist in there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: God keen that holds, as you say. Catherine Russell, thanks on your time as we speak. We’ll be again in a second.
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