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INTENSE FIGHTING HAS MADE SUDAN THE WORLD'S LARGEST CHILD DISPLACEMENT CRISIS

Since heavy fighting erupted in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, 15 months ago, millions of children’s lives have been torn apart and changed forever.

It has been over a year of unimaginable loss, of physical and emotional distress, and of prevalent violations of children’s rights.

  • Over 18,000 people have been reportedly killed.

  • Over 9.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes, of which 2.1 million have fled to neighbouring countries.

  • More than 4.6 million children are now displaced, making it the largest child displacement crisis in the world.

  • More than 16.4 million children are facing severere food shortages with child hunger levels almost doubling in the last 6 months.

  • More than 10 million children – or 1 in 2 children – have been within 5 km of the frontline of the conflict, over the past year - the highest rate of child exposure in the world.

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.

Twins Safana and Samar (15 months) are treated for malnutrition at a Save the Children clinic

Save the Children is currently supporting 85 health facilities across Sudan and has deployed its Emergency Health Unit to work alongside local health workers in White Nile State and Al Gezira State to provide essential healthcare services for host communities and displaced people. Services provided by the mobile clinics include treatment for diseases, vaccinations, maternal and child healthcare and the management of malnutrition cases. Mosaab Hassouna / Save the Children

THE CONFLICT'S IMPACT ON CHILDREN

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.

They are surviving bombs and bullets to risk dying from starvation and disease.

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.

DONATE TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN SUDAN AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

OUR RESPONSE

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. 

  • We’re running mobile health clinics in the camps for displaced people and providing nutrition supplements for malnourished children.

  • We’re responding to a major outbreak of cholera and have established 3 treatment centres.

  • Between February and March 2024, we arranged six cargo flights of 200 metric tonnes of life saving medical supplies. A further 60 metric tonnes of nutrition supplies were brought in via the seaport.

  • We’re providing cash grants to families to help them buy food, medicines, and other essentials.

  • We have established 65 accelerated learning programmes across 7 states to ensure children can still access education.

  • We also offer games and activities for children in safe spaces, such as dancing, drawing and sports to overcome their negative experiences. These safe spaces and play activities also relieve pressure off parents and help them to manage their stress.

Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 to provide humanitarian support to children and their families.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

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

PLEASE JOIN US AND DONATE TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN SUDAN AND AROUND THE WORLD.