Since heavy fighting erupted in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, one year ago, millions of children’s lives have been torn apart and changed forever.
It has been a year of unimaginable loss, of physical and emotional distress, and of prevalent violations of children’s rights.
This all comes as Sudan was already facing its worst-ever humanitarian crisis. About 25 million people – of whom over 14 million are children – need humanitarian assistance and support. That is every second person in Sudan needing assistance to meet their basic needs.
Despite the staggering levels of need, this crisis is not getting the attention it deserves. You can support our life-saving work in Sudan and other countries across the world.
Children have witnessed and experienced unimaginable violence. They’ve seen their homes, hospitals, playgrounds, and schools bombed, looted, and occupied. They’ve lost loved ones to the violence, been subject to unspeakable violence, whilst also being cut off from the very basics like food, water, shelter, and healthcare.
The horrors of conflicts like this can have a severe and long-lasting impact on children’s mental health unless they receive the urgent support they need.
This conflict is also denying millions of children their education. All 19 million school-aged children have lost access to learning as schools remain closed. The latest insecurities will only deepen the existing learning crisis, especially for children who are displaced and cut off from any education services.
We are working with partners to ensure that critical supplies can urgently reach people in need and that children’s rights and futures are protected.
We’re bringing together the best of our experience in humanitarian emergencies and long-term programmes and working with partners to ensure that urgently needed support reaches children and families in Sudan and neighbouring countries.
Despite the challenges, including the displacement of our own staff, we reached over 2.4 million people in 2023 with health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, child protection, food security and livelihoods support.
Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 to provide humanitarian support to children and their families.
Children and their families are in desperate need.
Donate to help us respond quickly to support children living in crisis in countries like Sudan and around the world.
Children are bearing the greatest brunt of this conflict. It is crucial for all parties involved to prioritise the protection of children and to take all necessary measures to safeguard their lives, rights and futures. This includes guaranteeing safe and uninterrupted humanitarian access.
But to truly protect children’s lives and futures, it is critical that we see an end to this fighting.
