What’s happening in Sudan?
Ten months of conflict in Sudan have left around 14 million children in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian support. Sudan is now the largest child displacement crisis in the world, with 4 million children fleeing widespread violence in search of safety, food, shelter and health care – most within Sudan.
Even before the conflict, humanitarian needs across Sudan had reached record levels. Now, an already dire situation has reached catastrophic levels, with access to food, safe water, electricity, and telecommunications unreliable, inaccessible and unaffordable. The humanitarian situation is most severe in conflict hotspot areas, while living conditions for internally displaced persons across the country remain dire.
Millions of vulnerable children have been denied access to learning as a result of the crisis, particularly in areas of active conflict, where 5 million school-aged children remain out of school. Places where children simply must be safe – homes, schools and hospitals – have consistently come under attack, and continue to do so.
How is UNICEF supporting children in Sudan?
UNICEF continues to call for an immediate ceasefire across Sudan, and reiterates its call for all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian and human rights law – including ensuring that children are protected – and that rapid, safe, unimpeded humanitarian access to children and families in affected areas is facilitated. Without such access, critical lifesaving humanitarian support will be out of reach for millions of vulnerable children.
Despite the challenges, UNICEF and partners have provided life-saving assistance to more than 6 million children inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries, including water, health, nutrition, safe spaces and learning.