The conflict in Sudan has taken a horrific toll on children, with recent reports highlighting the tragic loss of life. Shelling in Kadugli, South Kordofan State on 3 February claimed the lives of 21 children and left 29 more injured.
Just days earlier, at least 11 children were killed in a shelling attack on a livestock market in El Fasher, Darfur, while another eight children lost their lives and six were wounded in similar attacks on Sabreen market in Khartoum State.
Over the course of only three days, at least 40 children were killed or maimed across different parts of the country, underscoring the increasingly devastating impact the ongoing conflict is having on the most vulnerable.
Reports of child casualties have become all too frequent, with the violence against children intensifying since the outbreak of conflict in 2024. Between June and December 2024 alone, more than 900 incidents of grave violations against children were recorded, including killings, maiming, and other atrocities. The situation remains dire, particularly in Darfur, Khartoum, and Al Jazirah States, where children continue to suffer the most. In the first weeks of 2025, the violence has shown no signs of slowing, with children continuing to be caught in the crossfire of a brutal war that spares no one.
International organisations are calling for urgent action to protect children in Sudan, as their lives and futures hang in the balance. Despite the ongoing devastation, there is little sign of the conflict abating, and children remain at the mercy of the fighting. Organisations like UNICEF are emphasising the need for all parties to the conflict to adhere to international humanitarian law, ensuring that children’s rights are respected and their protection prioritised. With every passing day, more children are becoming victims of this senseless violence, and the call for an immediate end to the fighting grows louder.