The ongoing conflict in Sudan has sparked one of the world’s largest child displacement crises, forcing nearly 5 million children from their homes and leaving thousands dead. With the war dragging on, humanitarian organizations warn that the future of Sudanese children is in grave danger.
In camps like Kaya in South Sudan, families share heartbreaking stories of children caught in the crossfire. Amina, a mother of five, recalls the day her 17-year-old son Ahmed was killed in Sinja, southeastern Sudan. “They shot him in the chest,” she says, tears filling her eyes. The family buried him hastily before embarking on a perilous six-day journey to safety across the border.
For millions of children who survived the violence, the challenges continue. With famine spreading across the country, malnutrition is threatening over 730,000 children with severe acute malnutrition. In parts of Sudan, children are facing the highest levels of hunger, a lack of access to healthcare, and exploitation from armed groups. Nearly 19 million children are also unable to attend school, making Sudan’s education crisis among the worst in the world.
Humanitarian groups are struggling to provide aid due to ongoing violence, restricted access, and funding shortages. “A generation isn’t yet lost, but without urgent help, it may well be,” warns Mohamed Abdiladif, interim country director for Save the Children in Sudan.
A Worsening Crisis
The conflict between General al-Burhan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023, plunging the country into chaos. The fighting, which started in the capital Khartoum, has now spread to regions like Darfur and states including Sennar, Blue Nile, and Al Jazirah. An estimated 25 million people across Sudan are now facing acute hunger, and over 2 million have fled to neighboring countries like South Sudan, Chad, and Egypt.
In South Sudan, aid agencies are overwhelmed by the influx of malnourished children. In refugee camps like Kaya, families struggle to survive on dwindling food rations, with mothers cradling frail, starving children. Despite efforts by the U.N. and other groups, severe funding shortfalls have left many without the support they desperately need.
A Stolen Future
The war has also devastated Sudan’s education system. Schools have been destroyed, occupied by armed groups, or repurposed as shelters for displaced families. More than 90% of Sudan’s school-aged children are now unable to attend formal education, with their futures slipping away.
Amir, a 17-year-old former computer science student, fled Khartoum for South Sudan when the fighting intensified. Now living in Kaya camp, he feels his dreams have been shattered. “The war has taken so much from us. My future has been stolen,” he says.
Aid agencies are calling for a ceasefire and urgent international support to protect Sudan’s children from further harm. Without intervention, experts fear that the nation risks losing an entire generation to the conflict.
The world, they say, must act now before it’s too late.
