The ongoing conflict in Sudan has created a severe education crisis, with more than 8 million school-age children currently unable to attend classes, according to a United Nations statement. The war, which began in April 2023, has devastated the country’s educational infrastructure, with approximately three-quarters of schools in Darfur damaged, destroyed, or otherwise made unusable. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized that the conflict is robbing an “entire generation” of their future opportunities.
The scale of the humanitarian impact extends beyond school closures. Since 2024, documented attacks on educational facilities have exceeded 67 incidents, while schools have been repurposed for military use more than 154 times. Additionally, over half of Sudan’s teaching workforce has not received payment, though many educators continue working despite these dire circumstances. The conflict has also caused significant displacement, with approximately 15 million people displaced internally.
Efforts to provide alternative education have been undertaken, with UN partners reporting that over one million Sudanese children received some form of learning opportunity during the year. However, officials acknowledge this falls substantially short of actual needs. The UN warns that Sudan risks repeating a tragic pattern, having already lost a generation to previous conflicts and now facing the prospect of losing another.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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