The forgotten voices of children in war-torn Sudan
Women and children wait to fill their jerrycans with water at the Huri camp, south of Gedaref in eastern Sudan, on March 29, 2024. Photo by AFP.
Children in Sudan face a dire humanitarian crisis after more than a year of civil war. On August 1, 2024, famine was confirmed in Sudan’s North Darfur region; elsewhere, malnutrition is high. A recent report exposed the violence against children, especially women and girls. Ms. Limia Ahmed, the Deputy National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Sudan, says many children have lost their parents or guardians in the war or have been forced to live apart from their parents in different refugee or internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
What is daily life like for children in Sudan, particularly in areas affected by the civil war?
Children in Sudan, mostly in areas damaged by civil war, face a variety of challenges that severely impact their physical, emotional, and educational wellbeing. Lack of access to education and healthcare, restrictions of movement, constant security threats and violence, including bombings, shootings, and the repercussions of armed conflict create a climate of fear and instability, making it difficult for the children to lead normal lives.
Millions of children were forced to flee their homes into distant camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Usually overcrowded, these camps provide harsh living conditions, lacking clean water, sanitation, and adequate shelter. Most medical facilities are destroyed or inaccessible, and there is a chronic shortage of medical supplies and personnel. Malnutrition is high due to food insecurity exacerbated by the breakdown of agricultural systems and supply chains.
How would you describe the impact of the civil war on the physical and mental wellbeing of children?
The armed conflict has severely impacted the physical and mental wellbeing of the population, and the loss of livelihoods has plunged many into extreme poverty, leading to heightened tension and anxiety within households affecting both adults and children. In addition, continuously rising inflation and safety concerns are forcing families to migrate to neighbouring countries despite the extreme risks, sometimes even illegal migration. To make matters worse, adults and children have an increasing appetite for joining both sides of the conflicting parties, seeking security, safety, and a source of income.
The conflict has exposed children to extreme difficulties and deep psychological scars, negatively affecting their mental wellbeing in a situation with limited access to mental health or any other form of support. They are often caught in the crossfire, leading to physical injuries and disabilities, loss of loved ones, and even being exposed to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, and severe anxiety, hindering their emotional and social development. Children often feel hopeless and helpless, struggling to find a sense of normalcy in their disrupted lives. Safe spaces for playing and recreational activities are almost non-existent for the children to help them manage stress and anxiety.
There are also some reports of the rise of sexual violence against children, particularly girls, which is also causing immediate physical harm and long-term mental trauma. Children are forced into adult roles, taking on responsibilities far beyond their capabilities, which further impacts their mental health.
What is the situation of children without parental care in Sudan?
Many children have lost their parents or guardians due to bombings, armed attacks, disease outbreaks or even preventable diseases, compounded by the lack of healthcare. In addition, mass displacements have also caused the separation of many children from their families. Sometimes, separated children are forced to live apart from their parents in a different refugee or IDP camp.
The situation of these children is critical, with increasing numbers losing their parents due to conflict, displacement, and/or economic hardship. They face numerous challenges, including harsh living conditions, exploitation, and psychological trauma.
These children are vulnerable and need urgent support and protection. A coordinated international response with adequate resources, skills, and long-term solutions is required.
Can you tell us what SOS Children’s Villages Sudan is doing to support children and families in the community and minimize the risk of child-family separation?
In addition to the existing Alternative Care and Family Strengthening Programs, SOS Children’s Villages Sudan is currently implementing a comprehensive three-year (2024 to 2026) emergency response program funded by the Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA). Targeting about 32,500 people, this additional emergency response program will provide integrated life-saving interventions focusing on the most severely affected individuals, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities, addressing their urgent needs and enhancing their resilience. The program focuses on protection, sanitation and hygiene, food security and other daily essentials. The program also prioritizes protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence. It establishes child-friendly spaces, provides psychosocial support, and builds the capacity of the community to prevent and respond to safeguarding matters, as well as distribute food items to prevent malnutrition.
SOS Children’s Villages Sudan will continue to collaborate closely with the DRA and local partners to ensure a coordinated and effective response, leveraging the strengths and resources of multiple organizations to maximize impact and efficiency.
What are some of your biggest challenges in carrying out your work?
In the context of ongoing conflict and instability, it is challenging to support children where various obstacles hinder the ability to deliver aid effectively, ensure the safety of the staff and beneficiaries, and achieve sustainable development outcomes.
The highly volatile environment and instability pose significant risks to staff members and the target populations, making it difficult to operate safely and consistently. Many areas, especially those most affected by the conflict, are inaccessible due to security concerns, roadblocks, checkpoints or active clashes.
The other challenge is the limited support the international development community provides in resource mobilization. The overshadowing of the Sudan crisis by other global emergencies contributes to a lack of funding that limits our response capacity.
The conflict has also caused limitations in reliable communication networks in many parts of Sudan, hampering coordination among humanitarian actors and delaying critical decision-making and response efforts.
An even further challenge is the massive psychological pressure, high levels of stress and burnout on the humanitarian actors in Sudan who witness the suffering of people, deal with traumatic events, and work under the constant threat of violence.
Despite these formidable challenges, our commitment to supporting children in Sudan remains unwavering. We continuously adapt our strategies, seek innovative solutions, and collaborate with local and international partners to overcome obstacles. Addressing these challenges requires sustained support, flexible funding, and a collective effort from the global community to ensure that the children of Sudan receive the care, protection, and opportunities they deserve.
How are the children and caregivers relocated from Khartoum doing in this crisis?
After successfully relocating the children and caregivers away from the immediate conflict zones, SOS Children’s Villages Sudan was able to avert the risk of exposure to violence and direct threats to their lives. This provided the children, young people and families a degree of safety from the immediate dangers of the conflict.
The relocated families still face security concerns and conflict-related risks in their new locations. This uncertainty causes ongoing anxiety and stress in children and young people. Moreover, the psychological impact on children and young people remains the same because they left their homes and belongings behind and the challenges of adjusting to a new environment and social dynamics.
The disruption of their education has massively affected the children. Children mention that they miss school and their friends and would like to go back to school.
Ensuring the wellbeing of children, young people, and families requires sustained and coordinated effort to provide a relatively stable environment to rebuild their lives and secure a hopeful future. The resilience of these children and caregivers is remarkable, and with support, they can overcome the difficulties they face.
What’s your message to the outside world about the war and its impact on children?
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has created a humanitarian crisis with devastating effects on children, who are among the most vulnerable. These children are suffering from unimaginable difficulties, but their voices are often unheard on the global stage. Many have lost their families, homes, and the chance to pursue an education. They are robbed of their childhood and subjected to violence, harm and severe trauma.
The international community must respond with the same urgency and compassion shown to other conflict regions. Humanitarian aid, diplomatic efforts, and media coverage are crucial to bringing much-needed relief and hope to Sudanese children.
SOS Children’s Villages Sudan calls on global leaders and development actors to exert more diplomatic and political pressure towards ending the conflict in Sudan. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these children receive the protection, care, and opportunities they deserve.
The SOS MAYDAY Emergency Relief Fund equips us to act swiftly and effectively to support children and families during emergencies and to build resilience against future disasters in the communities we support. Please donate to this fund to enable us to respond when crises occur.