The current situation for children in Sudan
Nearly two years after the eruption of conflict, Sudan continues to experience a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. Intense clashes involving small-arms fire, heavy weaponry, artillery, and airstrikes have continued to put thousands of families and children in great danger.
As of January 2025, 30.4 million people (over half the population) require assistance. Among them are 16 million children, representing the nation’s future. The people in need include 14.3 million non-hosting residents (47%), 8.9 million internally displaced persons (29%), 6.4 million host community members (21%) and 0.89 million refugees (3%). Over half of those affected are children and 50% are women and girls.
Save the Children in Sudan
Save the Children has been working in Sudan since 1983, operating in 13 of the country’s 18 states. Many of the children and families we support are among the most vulnerable and hardest to reach. Today, we are one of the largest international NGOs in Sudan, providing a range of services to protect children’s lives and rights.
After the conflict broke out on April 15, 2023, we had to briefly pause our operations in some of the conflict-affected areas to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff. However, we swiftly adapted our on-going programs and initiated our emergency response in May 2023 providing integrated health, nutrition, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Child Protection, Food Security, Livelihoods and Education programs across Sudan.
What we do
Our impact

Hamid*, 12, is from Khartoum in Sudan and has eight brothers and sisters. Before violent conflict forced Hamid and his family to flee their home, he used to play billiards and his PlayStation with his friends. He was in grade 4 and enjoyed learning Arabic and playing football and volleyball at school. Hamid says life at the site where they live now with other displaced families is hard. It’s challenging to find jobs, and his mother works from dawn until dusk to try and provide for her family. Hamid has also struggled to cope with losing friends and family in the conflict and has suffered from mental health issues. Since the outbreak of fighting in Sudan in April 2023, many children have witnessed things no child should ever see, lost or become separated from loved ones and have been forced to flee their homes. More than 6.7 million people have been newly displaced , often living in dire conditions at their arrival points. It is estimated that more than 12,000 people have been killed as a direct impact of violence. Thousands more have died due to a lack of healthcare and basic supplies. Half of the population, nearly 25 million people, require humanitarian aid, including 13 million children. Save the Children’s support: Save the Children has deployed its Emergency Health Unit to support mobile health teams in White Nile and Al Gezira States to provide essential healthcare services for host communities and displaced children and adults. Services include treatment for diseases, vaccinations, maternal and child healthcare, the management of malnutrition cases and psychosocial support. Hamid has received ongoing psychosocial support from a psychotherapist at a Save the Children mobile clinic who has helped him to start to process what he has witnessed and how his life has changed. Hamid and his family also attend the clinic to receive treatment for other health issues. Mosaab Hassouna / Save the Children
News & Stories
16 Apr 2025
Families fleeing attacks in Sudan’s Zamzam camp arrive injured, traumatised, with nothing to eat – Save the Children
Thousands of families have arrived injured, traumatised and with no food or water in the town of Tawila after journeys of up to 70km (40 miles) on foot to flee attacks in Sudan’s Zamzam and Al Shouk camps, Save the Children said.
15 Apr 2025
SUDAN: ONE CHILD EVERY 10 SECONDS FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOME SINCE CONFLICT BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO
To mark two years of the conflict, Save the Children commissioned Sudanese illustrator Shiroug Idris – who was herself displaced by the conflict - to highlight the impact of conflict on children’s lives.
12 Apr 2025
JOINT STATEMENT: INGOs in Sudan condemn the Killing of Civilians and Aid Workers in ZamZam Camp, Abu Shouk and Al Fasher
For nearly a year, people in ZamZam camp, Abu Shouk camp and Al Fasher town have lived under siege—cut off, starved, and terrorised. Over the past four months they have endured relentless attacks, including artillery shelling and ground incursions that have killed, wounded or displaced countless civilians.