The crisis children are facing
Sudan is caught in a perfect storm of violence, hunger and displacement that's devastating children's lives.
The world's largest child displacement crisis
Sudan is now experiencing the world's largest child displacement crisis. Over 13 million people, including 7 million children, have been forced to flee their homes - almost one third of the population. Families are living in overcrowded informal settlements or makeshift shelters, often without access to clean water, adequate sanitation or shelter. Many have fled multiple times as fighting spreads. Many have lost family members to violence they should never have witnessed.
Catastrophic hunger
More than half the population is struggling to find enough food to survive. 11.6 million children are facing crisis levels of hunger. In El Fasher and Kadugli, children and their families are facing risk of famine. One in three children under five are acutely malnourished, and without urgent treatment, many will not survive.
Recently, famine thresholds were surpassed in two additional North Darfur localities - Um Baru and Kernoi - on top of existing famine conditions in El Fasher and Kadugli. More than 21 million people face acute food insecurity, and nearly two-thirds of the population is expected to need humanitarian aid this year.
Trapped and forgotten
260,000 people, including 130,000 children, remain trapped in El Fasher after the city fell under siege. They face famine-like conditions, no access to healthcare, and no safe way out. Families who try to escape face extreme danger along the routes. Some have walked for four days without food or water, only to be robbed, beaten and threatened by armed groups along the way.
Updated April 2026
What this means for children
Children are bearing the heaviest burden of this crisis. Every day, children are being killed and injured as violence continues. Grave violations of children's rights are being reported across the country.
Many children have been exposed to extreme violence, including attacks on civilian areas, and reports continue to emerge of sexual violence, abduction and forced recruitment by armed groups. Children have been separated from families as they flee, leaving them at heightened risk of abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
Education has been severely disrupted, with almost 11 million children in need of education support. Schools have been damaged, destroyed or closed due to insecurity, and many facilities that remain standing are being used to shelter displaced families.
Healthcare has also been deeply affected. Many health facilities in conflict-affected areas are no longer functioning due to attacks, looting, shortages of staff and supplies, and lack of fuel and water - cutting children and pregnant women off from essential, often lifesaving, care.
Despite the staggering levels of need, this crisis is not getting the attention it deserves. There's an unprecedented lack of funding and critical gaps in humanitarian access.
"Sudan is not a crisis the world has failed to notice. It is a crisis the world is choosing to ignore." Read our CEO Moazzam Malik's piece in the Independent.
Vishna Shah (Director of Child Rights Advocacy) engaging with children at a Save the Children supported girls’ school in Red Sea State.
SHOW THE GOVERNMENT THAT SUDAN MATTERS
We're calling on the UK government to do everything it can to protect children in Sudan.
Email your MP to demand that they speak up in Parliament and write to the Foreign Secretary. It takes less than a minute to send - but can make a lifetime of difference.
How we're helping children in Sudan
Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983, supporting children and families affected by conflict, displacement, hunger and poverty. We are one of the largest international non-governmental organisations operating in 14 of the 18 states in the country.
In 2025, Save the Children and partners reached over 4.4 million people, including more than 3 million children, with lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance.
Healthcare - Running mobile health clinics in areas hosting displaced families and supporting health facilities that remain operational, helping children access treatment for common and life-threatening illnesses, maternal and newborn care, and responding to disease outbreaks including cholera
Nutrition support - Screening children for malnutrition, providing therapeutic nutrition treatment for those severely malnourished, supporting mothers with infant and young child feeding
Water, sanitation and hygiene - Supporting families to access safe water and basic sanitation in displacement sites and conflict-affected communities through water trucking, water storage points and hygiene kits
Food security and livelihoods - Supporting families to meet basic needs through food assistance and cash-based support
Education - Supporting children to continue learning through schools and learning spaces, providing learning materials, setting up temporary education activities
Child protection - Providing services to identify and support children at risk, offering psychosocial support, supporting family tracing and reunification, creating safe spaces
Despite extreme insecurity, access constraints and displacement of communities, Save the Children teams - the vast majority of whom are Sudanese - continue to deliver programmes wherever security conditions allow.
Humanitarian access remains severely constrained due to insecurity, sieges, blockades and bureaucratic barriers. The conflict in the Middle East and wider region has also caused disruptions to global supply chains, including routes to Sudan used to deliver lifesaving medical aid.
Meet Ali*, an explosion survivor
"I believe things will get better." - Ali, 13
Ali and his brother, Nour*, were playing football with friends when a shell exploded near their home.
In a split second, their lives changed forever: Ali lost his leg, and Nour suffered severe abdominal injuries and a spinal fracture.
Their mum embarked on a desperate journey to find help. Health systems were collapsing around them, and Nour's treatment was interrupted over and over by attacks on hospitals. But she never gave up.
When the family reached Gedaref, we were there to help. We supported Ali with motor wheelchair, and the family with livesaving essentials like beds, blankets and mosquito nets.
We also made sure Ali and Nour had school uniforms and bags, so they can continue to learn.
*names changed to keep children safe
Together, we can save lives
Children in Sudan are living through a nightmare, but with your support, we can reach them and children around the world with the food, healthcare, protection and hope they desperately need.
Together, we can make sure Sudan's children are not forgotten.
