Over 2.8 Million Sudanese Children Face Extreme Hardship as Violence Escalates

More than 2.8 million children under 5 in Sudan face severe humanitarian challenges as ongoing armed conflict continues to displace families, depriving young children of essential services like vaccinations, clean water, healthcare, nutritious food, and shelter, according to international organizations. Save the Children reported Wednesday that over half of the 11 million people displaced by the conflict are children under 18, many now sheltering in overcrowded camps, informal settlements, and public spaces. Violence has intensified in central Gezira state, with children suffering the brunt of the conflict. Al-Khatim Ali, spokesperson for the SANAD Foundation, warned that more than 100 children have died in recent attacks in Gezira, with the true count possibly higher.

Abdul Qadir Abdullah Abu, secretary-general of Sudan’s National Council for Child Welfare, highlighted that over 1.5 million children are no longer attending school, with thousands physically injured and many left psychologically scarred by the violence. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized global responsibility to protect Sudan’s children, calling for urgent action to prevent further atrocities. Since April, deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have claimed over 24,850 lives, leaving millions in urgent need of humanitarian aid.