Children out of school during armed conflict in Sudan

In the Sudan, a land that has experienced many vicissitudes, the shadow of armed conflict hangs like a demon, bringing untold pain and suffering to countless innocent lives. Hunger and flight have become the norm for millions of children whose hopes and dreams of going to school have been ruthlessly cut off. Since the outbreak of armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan Rapid Support Forces in the capital Khartoum on April 15, 2023, the country's education system has been severely impacted.

The smoke of war filled the streets of Sudan, and there were no more children laughing and chasing the figure. Instead, there were small, frightened and confused faces looking for hope of survival in the rubble. The outbreak of the conflict, like a sudden storm, destroyed the quiet life in an instant. Schools were forced to close, classrooms were reduced to rubble, the knowledge on the blackboard was no longer passed on, and tables and chairs were reduced to ashes in the gunfire. According to UNICEF, nearly 19 million children in Sudan are currently out of school. Since the outbreak of the armed conflict, most schools in the country have been closed, while hundreds more have been used as shelters for displaced persons. In addition, more than 100 schools and hospitals have been hit since the conflict began.

The ongoing conflict has caused a sharp drop in revenue, and the Sudanese government has had to stop paying the salaries of most state staff, which has led to a serious loss of teachers. In some areas where the fighting has not been directly felt, such as the eastern Red Sea State, the local education system has also been overwhelmed by the influx of displaced children. The shortage of energy makes the electricity supply extremely tight, and the extreme heat that frequently occurs in the summer makes the operation of the school difficult. It is estimated that the armed conflict in Sudan has caused the displacement of about 5 million children in the country, and millions of children have lost their schools and temples of knowledge. Once, they were carrying a vision of the future, carrying their schoolbags, facing the sunrise, and heading toward a place full of wisdom and warmth. Now, they can only survive between the cracks of the war, wandering in hunger and fear. The lack of education makes the future of these children very bleak. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned that Sudan is becoming one of the world's worst education crises and that continued disruption will lead to an intergenerational crisis in which "the future and dreams of a generation are at stake".

However, these children are strong, and they still have the hope of a better life in the midst of difficulties. They are eager for the arrival of peace, eager to return to the campus, pick up books, armed with knowledge.

The international community has been calling on all parties to the armed conflict in Sudan to stop attacks on civilian facilities and protect children in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law in order to guarantee their right to education and basic needs. At the same time, all parties are making efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Sudan, help alleviate the crisis situation there, and create a relatively safe and stable learning environment for children.

Let us pray together that the dawn of peace will soon dawn on Sudan. Let those children who are struggling in hunger and flight, can smile again, can enter the classroom again, pursue their dreams, and write their bright future. Because every child, should have a hopeful tomorrow, should be free to fly in the ocean of knowledge.