Port Sudan, Sudan – In a devastating revelation, the National Council for Child Welfare has reported that more than 15 million children in Sudan are currently out of school due to the ongoing conflict that has gripped the nation. Abdul Qadir Abdullah Abu, the council’s secretary-general, highlighted this alarming statistic during a press conference held in Port Sudan, the capital of the Red Sea State. According to Abu, the ongoing violence has taken a profound toll on the younger population, with nearly 3,000 children killed during the displacement caused by the conflict. He specifically condemned the actions of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), alleging systematic violations against children, including the kidnapping of over 2,500 minors and the recruitment of more than 8,000 children into combat roles.
“Children are the most vulnerable group in this crisis, and they need urgent protection mechanisms,” Abu emphasized, calling for immediate international attention and intervention to safeguard the rights and well-being of Sudanese youth. The humanitarian crisis is further compounded by a report from Save the Children, which states that over 2.8 million children under the age of five are facing dire conditions as the conflict continues. With children making up more than half of Sudan’s 11 million displaced individuals, many are forced to live in camps, informal settlements, and overcrowded schools or public buildings.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. As of October 14, over 24,850 people have lost their lives in the violence, according to statistics from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. The International Organisation for Migration estimates that more than 14 million people have been displaced, either within Sudan or across its borders. As the situation escalates, the future of millions of Sudan's children hangs in the balance, highlighting an urgent need for humanitarian support and advocacy to ensure their right to education and safety in these tumultuous times.