UN agencies have warned of an unprecedented escalation in the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, particularly among children and mothers, as the war—ongoing since April 2023—continues with no signs of a near military resolution.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed that around 4,300 children have been killed or injured with disabilities since the outbreak of the war, highlighting the severe human toll on the most vulnerable groups.
The organization explained that 78% of child injuries were caused by drone attacks, reflecting the increasing use of such weapons in the conflict.
UNICEF also reported that the United Nations has documented more than 5,700 grave violations against children, most of them concentrated in the Darfur (west) and Kordofan (central) regions, where the fiercest fighting is taking place.
In the first quarter of this year alone, 160 children were killed and dozens more seriously injured, indicating that the situation continues to deteriorate despite more than a year having passed since the war began.
In a related context, Save the Children warned that maternal mortality rates in Sudan have risen to 12% this year, amid the collapse of the healthcare system and the decline of basic services.
