Children in Sudan Face Relentless Violence, Displacement and Deprivation
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), children in Sudan are “caught in a relentless cycle of violence, displacement and deprivation.” The agency’s representative told the UN Human Rights Council that more than 300 children have been killed or injured in the past six months, with the majority of those casualties resulting from drone strikes.
Scale of the Crisis
Since fighting erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the conflict has:
- Claimed at least 59,000 lives.
- Displaced roughly 13 million people.
- Pushed large swaths of the country into famine.
- Left more than 30 million Sudanese dependent on humanitarian assistance.
These figures come from the latest UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) situation reports, which are regularly updated and widely cited by humanitarian organisations.
Impact of Drone Warfare
UNICEF notes that drone warfare is responsible for about 60 percent of child casualties in the current fighting. The strikes have hit:
- Schools and learning centres.
- Markets where families purchase food.
- Gas stations and water points, cutting off essential services.
As a result, over 500,000 civilians—including many children—are now at heightened risk of injury, disease, and malnutrition due to damaged infrastructure and near‑siege conditions that have persisted for more than a year.
Humanitarian Response and Calls for Protection
The United Nations, together with the United States, the United Kingdom and other member states, has urged all parties to:
- Protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
- Facilitate unhindered access for humanitarian aid.
- Take all feasible measures to shield children from harm.
The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution condemning the escalating violence by the RSF and its allies around the strategic town of el‑Obeid in northern Kordofan. The same resolution encourages greater support for nations hosting Sudanese refugees and den refugees and condemnation of external interference in the conflict.
International Reaction
Governments and NGOs have expressed deep concern over possible atrocities as the SAF and RSF vie for control of key territories. Statements from the U.S. Department of State, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the European Union echo the UN’s call for immediate cease‑fire negotiations and robust protection mechanisms for children.
Field reports from UNICEF staff on the ground describe children living in makeshift shelters, missing months of schooling, and suffering from acute malnutrition—a reality that underscores the urgency of the international community’s response.
