The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in approximately 19 million children in Sudan being out of school, according to a joint statement by Unicef and Save the Children. Of this total, about 6.5 million children have lost access to education due to increased violence and insecurity in their regions, with over 10,400 schools closed in conflict-affected areas. Another 5.5 million children in less affected areas are waiting for local authorities to confirm whether classrooms can be reopened.
Even before the conflict began in April, nearly 7 million children were already out of school in Sudan. Unicef and Save the Children warned that if the war continues, no child in Sudan will be able to return to school in the coming months, exposing them to immediate and long-term dangers. They called on Sudanese authorities to reopen schools in safe areas and urged the international community to provide resources and support for the education of Sudanese children.