Sudan's Lost Children
Child Displacement in Sudan Reaches Crisis Levels Amid Escalating Violence
Breaking the Silence
Sudanese women confront rape and violence; find support in refugee camps in Chad
Unprecedented: The crisis for children and families in Sudan
As the world’s gaze is fixed on other conflicts, Sudan has silently slid into the largest child displacement crisis in the world.
Sudan Crisis Response
What current events are occurring in Sudan?
More than 8.4 million people have been displaced within Sudan and surrounding countries since fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted on 15 April 2023 in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. The conflict has spread across other parts of Sudan such as Darfur, Northern state, River Nile, West Darfur and White Nile states.
Civilians have fled into Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Sudan is now the largest child displacement crisis in the world, with over 3 million children fleeing widespread violence in search of safety, food, shelter, and health care.
How is the situation impacting Sudanese?
Thousands of civilians have lost their homes due to the fighting. Some of the challenges faced include insecurity, looting, bureaucratic impediments, poor network and phone connectivity, lack of cash, and limited technical and humanitarian staff on the ground have affected the delivery of humanitarian aid in many parts of the country.
Many people in Sudan were already facing hunger daily because of climate shocks, rising food prices, and political unrest. The ongoing conflict and recent surge in violence have affected people in numerous ways, including:
- 19 million children are deprived of their right to education. Should the conflict result in schools remaining closed, this will have devastating impacts for Sudan’s society.
- Food insecurity remains a key issue in Sudan – especially in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan, with an estimated 20.3 million people – 42 per cent of the population – face acute food insecurity.
- Hostilities have started to spill over into Aj Jazirah State, Sudan’s breadbasket, which could have grave consequences for the harvest season and agricultural productivity. Shortages of critical inputs coupled with erratic weather patterns, threaten both planting and harvesting. A below average harvest in the coming months would push more people into hunger and others into more severe levels of hunger.
- Access to healthcare has become a major concern, with limited medical facilities and resources. One in every 11 health facilities are not functioning.
- In September 2023, Sudan declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref. As of March 2024, 10,849 suspected cholera cases, including 300 associated deaths, have been reported. Cholera has spread to 46 localities in Al Jazirah, Blue Nile, Gedaref, Kassala, Khartoum, Red Sea, Sennar, South Kordofan, and White Nile states.
- Protection remains an urgent priority, with an increasing number of reports of sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and grave violations of human and children’s rights.
South Sudan was in crisis then Sudan’s conflict erupted
An in-depth look at the desperate situation inside South Sudan before and after the crisis in Sudan started and a look at the work that World Vision teams are doing to support the most vulnerable children and their families.
How is World Vision responding to the needs of those impacted by the crisis in Sudan?
Following the temporary suspension of our field operations in Sudan on Sunday 16 April 2023, World Vision launched a multi-country emergency response on 2nd May 2023. The declaration was based on the severity of the situation inside Sudan, its impact on neighbouring countries and the projected and protracted nature of humanitarian needs. Our efforts will be focused on affected populations in Sudan as well as those that have fled into Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
What is World Vision’s Capacity in Sudan?
World Vision is one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations active in Sudan, having worked there for nearly four decades. In the past year alone, our work impacted over 1.5 million people, majority of whom were women and children. Our interventions included providing essential aid such as food, clean water, child protection, health and nutrition, and sanitation and hygiene programs. Other areas of operation included:
- Supporting a school meal program for more than 140,000 vulnerable children
- Providing access to clean water for over 55,000 people
- Reaching more than 41,000 people with home healthcare and treatment.
World Vision therefore remains committed to resuming our work in Sudan. Our staff, all of whom are affected by the conflict themselves, are eager to return to serving the most vulnerable children and families.
How many people did we reach in FY23?
Between October 2022 and September 2023, World Vision Sudan has reached:
- 736,300 people were provided with food and cash assistance.
- We have distributed US$ 6,220,000 in cash.
- 70,600 people were supported with seeds, livestock and training.
- 54,500 individuals were given access to safe and clean drinking water.
- 341,500 individuals in health and nutrition services, including mobile clinics. 56 healthcare facilities were supported.
- 20,200 people were supported with protection services.
- 20,900 people were reached with faith and development activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fast facts: Sudan crisis
- Sudan is Africa’s third-largest country by area, with a population of more than 45 million.
- Nearly 16 million people — about one-third of the population — will need humanitarian aid in 2023, with millions of children going hungry.
- About 11 million people in Sudan lack access to clean water and sanitation.
- Approximately 10 million people are unable to access essential medical services.
- About 7 million children are out of school and need education support.
- Hunger is a grave concern, with 6.2 million people already experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity. Additionally, 1.5 million people are on the brink of famine.
- 3.7 million people remain internally displaced, and about 1 million refugees from the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Syria live in Sudan.
- According to the U. N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR), an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people have fled the recent violence in Sudan’s Darfur region to seek refuge in neighboring Chad.
- Escalating conflict has killed hundreds of people, with thousands more injured, including children.
What is causing the current crisis in Sudan?
On April 15, 2023, armed clashes broke out in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, following days of increased tension regarding a proposed transition to democratic governance. The security situation has deteriorated, resulting in hundreds of deaths, including three World Food Programme (WFP) workers. Armed attacks have also spread to other cities, including Nyala in South Darfur state.
“Thousands upon thousands of civilians are trapped in their homes, shielding from the fighting, with no electricity, unable to venture out and worried about running out of food, drinking water and medicine,” said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
How has the conflict impacted the Sudanese people?
Many people in Sudan were already facing hunger daily as a result of climate shocks, rising food prices, and political unrest. The ongoing conflict and recent surge in violence have affected people in numerous ways, including:
- Acute shortages of food, water, medicines, and fuel, with prices of essential items and transport sharply increasing.
- Limited or no access to healthcare services. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported attacks on 11 healthcare facilities, with many other facilities stretched beyond capacity and nearly non-functional due to staffing issues and lack of supplies.
- Forced displacement in various states, including Khartoum, Northern, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, North Darfur, West Darfur, and South Darfur. Many from these beleaguered states have fled to the countries of Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan.
- Sexual and gender-based violence. U.N. Women has called on all parties to ensure that women and girls are protected from these crimes.
- Fear and insecurity. Armed combatants have been occupying homes, reportedly some hospitals and schools, and also attacking water and electrical infrastructure.
What risks do children face in the Sudan crisis?
Over 3 million children in Sudan are acutely malnourished and face a severe health crisis, contributing to one of the world’s highest malnutrition rates. The situation is worsening as most regions in Sudan are experiencing restricted access to critical resources such as food, water, and sanitation and hygiene resources.
“Sudan is experiencing the highest humanitarian caseload in over a decade, with nearly 16 million people in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance. The escalating violence is only making the situation worse,” said Emmanuel Isch, director of World Vision in Sudan. “We join humanitarian partners in calling for an immediate end to the violence. Every child deserves a safe and protected childhood without the fear of violence, crossfire, and trauma.”
World Vision has joined other humanitarian agencies in calling for all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians, particularly children.
“It is essential that peace is urgently restored if children who are malnourished and face starvation are not to experience deep suffering that could cut short their lives,” added Emmanuel. “[Children] under 5 are especially at risk. Without peace we cannot deliver food assistance and nutrition support to extremely vulnerable girls and boys and their communities.”
