Source: Save the Children
PORT SUDAN, 15 April 2025 – One child every 10 seconds on average has been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began in Sudan two years ago, according to new analysis from Save the Children.
Sudan was already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises before conflict erupted in the capital, Khartoum, in April 2023, and the country is now facing the largest child displacement crisis globally, with over 6.5 million children uprooted from their homes [1] [2]. More than 12.6 million people are currently displaced by the conflict in Sudan – or one in three people [3].
To mark two years of the conflict, Save the Children commissioned Sudanese illustrator Shiroug Idris – who was herself displaced by the conflict – to highlight the impact of conflict on children’s lives.
Shiroug was herself forced to flee her home in Khartoum in 2023 and is now living 500 kms away in Kassala in eastern Sudan. She travelled to Gedaref with Save the Children to see the organisation’s work and ran a drawing workshop with children to let them tell their own stories of the conflict.
“As someone who was forced to flee this terrible conflict, it is heartbreaking to witness what these children are going through. Millions have been displaced, forced from their homes, and robbed of the childhood every child deserves,” Shiroug said.
“Through my drawings, I hope to make the world more aware of the atrocities unfolding in Sudan and the devastating impact on children’s lives. Governments around the world must do more to recognise this crisis and put an end to the suffering.”
One of the children working with Shiroug was Fatima-, 11, who was forced to flee her home in Al Jazirah state in east-central Sudan following violent clashes in which a bullet fired through one of the windows of their home.
Fatima- and her family escaped to a nearby village, but soldiers came to their house and threatened to kill them. Her family moved through multiple villages, facing violence, extortion, and hardship before reaching a camp in Gedaref Save the Children provided her family with food, blankets, mattresses, clothes, including pajamas and slippers.
“I was scared that we would be killed, but my mum reassured me. When we arrived in Gedaref, I was happy because there were no sounds of fighting, just peace,” Fatima- said.
Fatima- now attends school and a child friendly space, where she takes part in activities such as art, sports, and structured play, to help process her trauma, build resilience, and regain her confidence.
Her message to other children in Sudan is: “Don’t be afraid; we will go back home, just like others have.”
In the chaos and violence in the past two years in which an estimated 28,700 people have been killed, many children have been separated from their families, putting them at higher risk of being attacked or exploited.
Over 2,686 child rights violations have been reported in the past year to Save the Children alone, the majority involving the killing and maiming of children, child recruitment and sexual violence against children.
Mariam-, 14, was captured and raped by a group of armed men along with a friend who later died from her injuries. Mariam survived but became pregnant.
Upon learning of her pregnancy, her family forced her to move out of her home, and Mariam gave birth in unclean, unsupported conditions. Her newborn daughter became sick and died.
When Save the Children became aware of Mariam’s situation, the organisation supported her with health and psychological care and then worked closely with her family, helping them to understand why their daughter was not to blame. Today, she is back with her family, with ongoing support from Save the Children for her continued wellbeing.
Mohamad Abdiladif, the Country Director for Save the Children Sudan, said:
“For two years, conflict and widespread violence in Sudan have caused immense suffering for children. This has become the world’s largest displacement crisis for children, but despite the urgent need, the crisis in Sudan remains largely underreported and the world is not taking notice.”
“When people are forced to flee their homes due to violence, it’s usually the women and children who go first – and we often see displacement camps filled with children. But the number of children displaced in Sudan – and their young age and vulnerability – is staggering. The world has a duty of care for children, and we are failing them.”
Save the Children is urgently calling on the international community to take meaningful and urgent political action to address this crisis, for an immediate ceasefire and progress towards a lasting peace agreement.
Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and provides programming for children and families affected by conflict, displacement, extreme poverty and hunger.
-Names changed. We have spokespeople available in Sudan.
Calculations: Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Sudan: 8,856,313 (IOM, OCHA – February 2025). Over half (53%) of IDPs were reportedly children under the age of 18-years-old (IOM); IDPs who are under 18: 4,693,845(IOM); Total newly arrived refugees/asylum seekers: 3,772,215 (UNHCR, IOM & Governments – December 2024). IDPs who are under 18: 4,693,845 + Total newly arrived refugees/asylum seekers under 18 outside Sudan: 1,888,270 = 6,582,115 (This reflects data recorded since the commencement of the conflict in April 2023.)
6,582,115 ÷ 731 (number of days from the last two years) = 9,004 every day
9,004 ÷ 24 (hours in a day) = 375 every hour
375 ÷ 60 (minutes in an hour) = 6.25 every minute = One every 10 seconds
