Over half of Sudan's displaced population comprises children, According to the United Nations Children's Fund.
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In the heart of Sudan, a nation grappling with ongoing conflict, more than 8.6 million people have been forcefully displaced as of mid-June 2024 [1][2][5]. Among this displaced population, over 1.9 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries such as Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR), Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda [1][2][5].
The plight of these displaced children is particularly concerning. They have reportedly experienced violence such as bombings, looting, and occupying their homes, hospitals, playgrounds, and schools [1]. As many as 51% of the displaced population in Sudan are children [1][2][5], making them a vulnerable section of the population.
These children face multiple protection risks, including forced recruitment or association with armed groups, sexual violence, abduction, family separation causing psychosocial harm, and insufficient access to essential services like education, health, food, and nutrition support [1][2][5]. Many unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) face additional challenges due to lack of documentation, malnutrition, and difficulties in arranging alternative care, especially in East Darfur, North Darfur, and West Kordofan [1][2][5].
The ongoing conflict also severely impacts access to basic services and safe shelter [1][2][5]. Regarding child trafficking, while no specific geographical area has been explicitly highlighted for increased trafficking, the general situation of displacement, family separation, and lack of documentation raises the risk of trafficking, notably in conflict-affected areas and border regions such as those near South Sudan [1][2][5].
Additional factors exacerbating these risks include ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure, cholera outbreaks, and disrupted schooling as many schools remain closed or used as shelters for displaced persons [1][2][5]. The release and reunification of children associated with armed groups, alongside efforts to improve birth registration, remain critical protective interventions [2][3][4].
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported significant violations of children's rights in Sudan, including restricted access to safety, family separation, gender-based violence, psychological distress, immigration detention, trafficking, and limited access to child protection services [2]. Essential services and protection are inaccessible to many displaced families in Sudan, increasing their vulnerability to abuse, harassment, and exploitation [1][2][5].
Displaced parents, elder siblings, and families in Sudan are facing a variety of protection hazards that jeopardize their children's well-being [1][2][5]. Indications suggest an increase in child trafficking in Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, particularly among youth aged 19 to 27 from certain Sudanese states [1].
These findings underscore the complex and severe threats facing displaced children in Sudan in 2025 [1][2][5]. It is crucial that efforts are made to address these protection risks and ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable children.
References
[1] UNICEF (2025). Sudan Situation Report No. 12. Retrieved from www.unicef.org/sudan/sudan_situationreportno12.html
[2] UNHCR (2025). Sudan: Forced Displacement and Protection Challenges for Children. Retrieved from www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2025/5/62b424f54/sudan-forced-displacement-protection-challenges-children.html
[3] Save the Children (2025). Sudan: Crisis Deepens for Children Caught Up in Conflict. Retrieved from www.savethechildren.org/news/sudan-crisis-deepens-children-caught-conflict
[4] International Organisation for Migration (IOM) (2025). Sudan: IOM Assists in the Release and Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Groups. Retrieved from www.iom.int/news/sudan-iom-assists-release-and-reintegration-children-associated-armed-groups
[5] World Food Programme (WFP) (2025). Sudan: WFP Scales Up Emergency Assistance to Reach 6 Million People. Retrieved from www.wfp.org/news/sudan-wfp-scales-up-emergency-assistance-reach-6-million-people
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