The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stated that “the conflict in Sudan has caused severe disruption to the education system nationwide, with an estimated 19 million boys and girls currently out of school.”
It added that “around 80% of educational institutions are no longer operational, and the sector faces a funding gap of approximately $312 million.”
The organization explained that “Sudan’s cultural and natural heritage, including three sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is facing increasing threats. More than 100 cultural sites have been damaged, and at least 22 museums have been looted or destroyed since the conflict began.”
It continued, “We have contributed to the recovery of 570 artifacts looted from the National Museum of Sudan, documented more than 1,700 museum items, and assessed 11 heritage sites.”
UNESCO also noted that “its cultural initiatives in Port Sudan have supported more than 350 artists, women, girls, and cultural professionals among the internally displaced.”
It pointed out that “media in Sudan has been severely affected amid ongoing unrest, with about 90% of the country’s media infrastructure destroyed. Nearly 1,000 journalists have been displaced since the conflict began, and 15 journalists have been killed.”
The organization highlighted that “the war has caused extensive damage to higher education and scientific research infrastructure in Sudan, with 124 universities and colleges destroyed or looted, 1,880 laboratories damaged, and losses of 241 libraries, 2,550 classrooms, and 6,175 offices across Khartoum and six other states.”
It concluded that “the higher education sector requires an additional $1.5 million in funding.”
