SUDAN: Children killed on first day of Ramadan must spur urgent action to protect every child – Save the Children
PORT SUDAN, 19 Feb 2026 - As families across Sudan marked the first day of Ramadan, children were reportedly among those killed in renewed violence, underscoring the urgent need for international action to protect children after nearly three years of war, Save the Children said.
At least 18 people, including children, were killed on Wednesday when a drone strike hit a water collection point in Umm Rusum village, located in Al-Sunut locality of West Kordofan State, according to local media.
The latest deaths came as a United Nations fact-finding mission said that atrocities committed in El-Fasher in Darfur bore the hallmarks of genocide, with the report documenting widespread and systematic attacks against civilians, including women and children.
Save the Children said urgent action is needed to protect civilians especially children, with Sudan’s children remain trapped in a relentless war that has shattered communities, caused the world's largest displacement crisis impacting 15 million people, and pushed families to the brink of famine.
Francesco Lanino, Deputy Country Director of Programmes and Operations for Save the Children in Sudan, said:
“Ramadan should be a time of peace, reflection and family. Instead, children in Sudan are being killed in their homes and in places where they should be safe. No child should ever pay the price for a conflict they did not create.
"Reports from the UN about the scale of atrocities in El Fasher should shock the conscience of the world. Children are not only caught in the crossfire but in many cases, they are directly targeted or suffer the long-term consequences of displacement, hunger and trauma. At the very least parties to the conflict must commit to an immediate ceasefire during the holy month of Ramdan, allowing families to observe this sacred period in safety and dignity. This should serve as first step toward a sustained and meaningful cessation of hostilities.
“Sudan’s children cannot wait. The international community must move beyond statements of concern and take concrete action to protect children’s lives, uphold international law and ensure those responsible for atrocities are held to account.”
Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and is currently supporting children and their families across Sudan providing health, nutrition, education, child protection and food security and livelihoods support.
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