Topic overview
In brief
- The ongoing civil war in Sudan has left over 8 million children out of school.
- Nearly three-quarters of schools in the country have been affected by the conflict.
- The war is depriving an entire generation of Sudanese children of their future.
Summary
Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war that began over three years ago, leading to a devastating impact on the country's education system. As of August 2026, the United Nations reported that more than 8 million school-age children are currently out of school due to the ongoing conflict. The war, which has now entered its 1,210th day, has resulted in nearly three-quarters of schools being damaged, destroyed, or rendered unusable, particularly in the Darfur region where fighting intensified in April 2023. The situation has forced many parents to keep their children at home, as they consider it the only safe option available.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted the dire consequences of the conflict, stating that it is depriving an entire generation of Sudanese children of their future. The ongoing violence has led to significant disruptions in education, with UNICEF documenting over 67 attacks on schools and more than 154 instances of schools being used for military purposes since 2024. These figures likely understate the true extent of the crisis, as many incidents go unreported.