UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell recently visited a boys’ school in Kassala State to draw global attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis. The UN agency reports that around 10 million people, half of them children have been uprooted by the devastating conflict.
More than 150,000 lives are feared lost. During her visit, Russell urged immediate intervention to protect children and keep basic services running.
The war began in April 2023 after a violent power struggle erupted between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting has triggered famine and sparked accusations of genocide in Darfur, raising serious concerns for residents of El-Fasher following its recent capture by the RSF.
UNICEF says over 30 million people now rely on humanitarian support. Children caught in encircled or unreachable regions, especially in Darfur and Kordofan, face extreme danger as access to food, clean water, and healthcare has been nearly cut off.
Deadly attacks on December 8 also struck a kindergarten in South Kordofan, killing at least 63 children.The agency reports that women and girls are experiencing severe hardship, including alarming levels of sexual violence.
During her visit, Russell also met with women and teenage girls in Kassala who are receiving psychosocial care and skills training at a UNICEF-supported facility.
Many escaped brutal attacks and found temporary safety there, although similar services are scarce in Darfur and Kordofan due to persistent fighting. Famine has already been confirmed in parts of both regions and could spread further.
Families trying to escape the violence face dangerous routes. Those who reach safer locations often arrive severely malnourished, ill, and emotionally shattered. Russell also toured As-Senniya, an internally displaced persons camp in Port Sudan where UNICEF is supporting aid efforts.
The UN body says it is identifying and registering children who are alone or separated, with over 200 reunifications completed in North Darfur. UNICEF is also delivering child protection services, trauma support, training, emergency cash, clean water systems, and health services.
The organization has renewed its call for an immediate halt to the fighting and for all sides to respect international humanitarian law by protecting every child and civilian.
