UNICEF has described the conflict in Sudan as reaching a heartbreaking point as it enters the third year. The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023 has seen a the number of children needing humanitarian help has doubled – rising from 7.8 million at the start of 2023 to more than 15 million today.
Sudan is currently facing the world’s worst crisis for displaced children and humanitarian need. Over 30 million people need aid this year, and half of them are children. Nearly 15 million people have been forced to flee their homes, both within Sudan and to other countries. Shockingly, over half of the displaced are children – and one in three is under five years old.
The conflict has led to extreme violence, hunger, and disease. Access for aid workers is becoming harder, funding is low, and the upcoming rainy season (from May to October) is expected to bring floods, more malnutrition, and further illness.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said, “Two years of violence have shattered millions of children’s lives. Needs are growing faster than the funds available. With the rainy season approaching, many malnourished and sick children will become even harder to reach. The world must act now.”
Humanitarian groups are working to deliver food, water, medical care, and education. However, progress is slow due to blocked roads, dangerous conditions, and lack of money. Some areas also contain unexploded bombs, making it risky for families to return home.
Looking back, Sudan has struggled with political unrest and poverty for many years. The current crisis began when fighting broke out between the army and a rival paramilitary group. Since then, violence has spread widely, pushing the country into a deep humanitarian disaster.
Without urgent international support, the situation for Sudan’s children could become far worse.
