Shrapnel of War Maims Sudanese Children, Causing Amputations and Disabilities

In the emergency ward, 10-year-old Fatima lies on a hospital bed in Central Darfur State, suffering after shrapnel from an airstrike struck her leg below the knee. When the doctor arrived, she pointed to the source of pain. After examination, doctors decided to perform urgent surgery to save her life and stop the continuous bleeding.

The following day, the doctor gently spoke to Fatima about what had happened. It turned out she had been near the site of a drone strike that killed and injured several civilians, including children, as army aircraft carried out multiple attacks on towns and areas across the Darfur region.

According to reports from volunteers and doctors, more than 1,500 children have lost vital parts of their bodies due to drone strikes targeting civilians in the Kordofan and Darfur states by both sides of the conflict since last January.

Amputations

In the city of Dilling in South Kordofan State, 14-year-old Khaled Munzir lies motionless on a bed at his family home after losing parts of his limbs due to a drone strike by the Rapid Support Forces in February.

As a result of the incident, part of his hand was amputated. His right foot suffered fractures and deep wounds, while the bones in his left leg were shattered. He is still awaiting three additional surgeries.

Volunteer doctor Bishara Koko said that around 13 children were killed and dozens more seriously injured during heavy shelling carried out in March by the Rapid Support Forces and the allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North.

He added that many families were forced to resort to amputations due to delayed medical care, leaving dozens of children living under extremely difficult physical and psychological conditions after losing mobility.

Permanent Disabilities

Acting Minister of Social Development in Khartoum, Sadiq Farini, stated that 6,000 children have suffered varying injuries leading to permanent disabilities during the war in Sudan.

He stressed the urgent need to provide prosthetic limbs, specialized psychological support, and safe spaces, as well as the rehabilitation of training centers for displaced children and those without parental care.

Former Director-General of the National Authority for Prosthetics, Jamal Hamid, noted a surge in demand for prosthetic limbs, with around 900 being manufactured monthly—excluding cases related to diabetes complications or traffic accidents.

Targeting Adolescents

In Abu Zabad, West Kordofan State, shrapnel from an airstrike hit young Safiya Al-Nour in the leg, severing arteries.

Her mother, Halima Al-Bashar, said: “We were terrified. After great effort, we transferred her to a hospital in White Nile State for treatment. Doctors were forced to amputate her leg and performed emergency surgery to treat the wound.”

She added: “We are seriously considering getting her a prosthetic limb, but we have run out of savings. We may have to sell our car in a safer state to afford it and bring a smile back to our daughter’s face.”

Halima explained that the number of children seriously injured in West Kordofan due to drone strikes is extremely high, especially with increased air raids near residential areas and markets.

Shocking Statistics

Abdelqader Abdullah, Secretary-General of Sudan’s National Council for Child Welfare, said that more than 1.5 million children with disabilities have suffered injuries from artillery shells and drone strikes since the war began.

He added that 200,000 children in El Fasher and Nyala (North and South Darfur) have been affected by shelling up to August 2025. Additionally, more than 100 children were harmed in areas stretching from Omdurman in Khartoum State to Bara and Abu Qawoud in North Kordofan due to escalating attacks.

He further noted that approximately one million children have been killed due to involvement in the fighting, with around 315 reported injured.

He added that the Child Welfare Council, in cooperation with partners, will begin a nationwide health survey and develop plans this year to enhance services provided to children.

Risks and Concerns

Child rights specialist Amer Fathi expressed deep concern that continued indiscriminate aerial bombardment by both sides across Darfur, Kordofan, and Blue Nile will inevitably lead to more child deaths and severe injuries, especially given the collapse of healthcare services, displacement of medical staff, and difficulty in performing surgeries.

He warned that ongoing attacks on children in markets, residential neighborhoods, and shelters threaten to destroy any future for those who survive, as they already struggle to access basic rights such as healthcare and education.

Fathi also questioned the weak humanitarian response, saying it has not matched the scale of the tragedy faced by Sudanese children, particularly from the international community and organizations concerned with child welfare.

Psychological Trauma

Psychiatrist Rania Bashir emphasized the importance of not neglecting children who have suffered severe injuries due to airstrikes, calling for the establishment of specialized mental health units and clinics.

She explained that trauma from such experiences can have long-lasting psychological effects, requiring comprehensive and long-term care to address mental health challenges.

She noted that losing a limb is a life-altering shock, but modern therapeutic approaches can help children regain psychological balance and cope with post-traumatic stress.

Bashir added that a child’s recovery depends greatly on age and the severity of trauma, requiring dedicated therapy sessions and early access to prosthetics to ease adaptation.

She stressed that a supportive environment and strong morale among caregivers play a crucial role in recovery, as children need to see strength and resilience around them to overcome hardship.

Worsening Crisis

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, stated that for three years, children in Sudan have been killed and injured on a massive scale, while their homes, schools, and hospitals continue to be attacked.

She added that new methods of warfare have worsened the crisis, noting that 78% of reported child injuries were caused by drone strikes.

Russell concluded that Darfur and Kordofan states have recorded the highest rates of child injuries, reflecting a collective failure by all parties to protect children.