Released to mark the three-year anniversary of the war in Sudan, the animation lays bare the growing toll of war on children worldwide and urges government leaders to take action and prioritise children’s safety
Photos and quotes from a recent interview with Ali* are available to download here
The film is available to watch on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok
A new animated film, released today by Save the Children, highlights how children’s lives are being torn apart by war, with life-long consequences, as the laws designed to keep them safe are repeatedly broken.
Narrated by British-Sudanese comedian Ola Labib, the 2-minute animation is inspired by the story of a family in Sudan who are living with the long-term effects of explosive weapons.
It follows the story of two brothers, Ali*, 13 and Nour*, 10, who were playing football outside their home in Khartoum when a bomb exploded nearby, changing their lives forever. Ali* lost his leg instantly, while Nour* suffered severe injuries that left him paralysed.
Launching on the third anniversary of the conflict in Sudan, 'Walk Twice’ exposes the rising impact of explosive weapons on children’s lives as bombs and drones increasingly strike schools, homes, and hospitals - places that should be protected under international humanitarian law.
Analysis by Action on Armed Violence reveals that the number of casualties from explosive weapons in Sudan doubled in 2025 compared to 2023, the year the war began. They found evidence for 2,627 people killed and injured by blasts in 2023, rising to 4,478 in 2024 and 5,440 in 2025.
The number of civilians harmed per attack rose from around 19 in 2023 to 26 in 2025 — a 37% increase. This reflects the growing use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, where civilians gather, with most casualties occurring in residential districts, markets and other dense urban spaces.
The film’s narrator, British-Sudanese comedian, writer and actress Ola Labib said:
“Stories like *Ali’s are devastating - and as world leaders continue to flout international law, we risk seeing more children injured and suffering in this way.
“*Ali’s story really hit home for me. I lost my second cousin during the war in Sudan - he was around the same age as the brothers. Not everyone has that personal connection, but empathy shouldn’t depend on personal experience.
“Any child lost or injured to war is one too many. This must never be something we just accept. It must never become normal. That’s why I’m joining Save the Children’s campaign that urges the UK Government to fight for the right to childhood in Sudan.”
A moving portrayal of displacement and loss, the film follows the desperate journey taken by Ali*, Nour* and their mother across large swathes of Sudan, seeking treatment amid collapsing health systems and ongoing insecurity.
Eventually reaching a displacement camp in Gedarif, the film also captures the hope and quiet resilience of children affected by blast injuries. Following their upheaval, Save the Children provided the family with essential supplies, psychosocial support and mobility aids including an electric wheelchair for Ali.*
Speaking about the difference Save the Children’s support has made, Ali*, 13, said:
“When Save the Children came and gave me this wheelchair, my self-confidence grew. It motivated me not to give up, and it made me think that the future is worth pursuing and that nothing is impossible.”
While prompted by the anniversary of the conflict in Sudan, the film also highlights the growing threat to children in wars around the world, including Gaza and Ukraine.
A recent report by Save the Children reveals that explosive weapons are now killing children on a scale never seen before, with more than 60% of child casualties in war zones now coming from explosive weapons. Between 2020 and 2024, nearly 50,000 children became casualties of war — the equivalent of 200 full passenger planes.
Save the Children is urging the public to write to their MP and urge the UK Government to do everything it can to protect children in Sudan, including urgently pressuring all warring parties - and their international backers - to end the violence, prioritise children's safety and hold those who harm children accountable.
Alison Griffin, Head of Conflict and Humanitarian at Save the Children said:
“Every day we are watching the laws that were designed to protect children in conflict be openly ignored - not only by armed groups, but by governments that have a duty to protect them. No child should have to learn to walk twice. We cannot let this become the new normal.
“Without urgent action from global leaders, including the UK Government, we are on a dangerous path towards a world where conflict is a lawless free-for-all, and nothing is off limits.
“Standing up for international law isn’t a choice. It’s an obligation.”
Save the Children works in war zones around the world, providing life-saving care when children are injured through pop-up hospitals. The charity also supports children’s long-term recovery, from safe spaces to play and learn to an innovative partnership with Imperial College London developing prosthetic limbs that can be remoulded as children grow.
To find out more about Save the Children’s work supporting children injured in war, and to donate, visit savethechildren.org.uk/blast
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Notes to Editor:
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
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About Save the Children:
Save the Children exists to create lasting change for and with children. In more than 100 countries including the UK, we make sure children stay safe, healthy and learning, and change the future for good. We find new ways to reach children, no matter where they’re growing up. For a century, we’ve stood up for children’s rights and made sure their voices are heard.
For more information visit www.savethechildren.org.uk