Sudan’s war threatens an ‘entire generation’s’ future, UN warns

A generational crisis

More than eight million school-age children in Sudan are out of the classroom because of the civil war that erupted more than three years ago, the United Nations has said. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed delivered the warning at an informal UN Security Council session on safeguarding education in Sudan, as the war entered its 1,210th day.

"Among everything this war is taking, one of the most significant is the future of Sudan — depriving the education of its children," Mohammed said, cautioning that the conflict is depriving an "entire generation" of its future. "Five children in every six are out of school, and parents will tell you they would rather keep their children at home than send them to a classroom, because home for them is the only place left where they can keep them safe," she added.

Nearly three-quarters of schools have been damaged, destroyed, or otherwise rendered unusable in the country's Darfur region since fighting erupted in April 2023, according to the UN. Since 2024, the UN has documented more than 67 attacks on schools and more than 154 instances of schools being used for military purposes, Mohammed said, noting that the figures almost certainly understate the true toll.

More than half of Sudan's teachers have gone unpaid, though many continue working "against all odds", Mohammed said. "Sudan has already lost a generation to its earlier wars, and it is losing another one now," she warned, with the burden falling disproportionately on women and children.

A tentative return in Khartoum

Despite the scale of the crisis, children in Khartoum are trickling back into classrooms, as improved security in parts of Sudan allows families to return to the war-torn capital. Their return is just the beginning of a long recovery.

Hundreds of school buildings across Khartoum were damaged during the conflict, while those still standing are operating with overcrowded classrooms, limited teaching materials, and a shortage of qualified teachers.

"We have fewer students than before. Many are still displaced or seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. But we are doing our best to support our students psychologically and educationally, despite everything they have been through and continue to face," said Itimad Algizouli, principal of a school in Khartoum.

Authorities are working to restart the academic year, but rebuilding Sudan's education system remains one of the country's biggest long-term challenges. Many students have lost years of education and continue to cope with the psychological effects of war.

"Both parents and schools want to fill the years-long learning gaps in a short period, amid financial challenges and impacted infrastructure. The students themselves need major efforts to restore their desire for education and their ability to learn alongside psycho-social support. With all of these efforts, we can finally start and continue the academic year," said Mohamed Elyas, a teacher at the school.

For parents displaced by years of conflict, sending children back to school is a financial strain when means are already limited. Transportation, uniforms, books, and other costs come at a time when most families are still recovering from the economic toll of displacement.

"We were displaced and moved several times, but we decided to return to ensure a better future for our children, despite the financial challenges," said Manal Ali, a parent. Students are now preparing to enter Sudanese secondary school certificate exams under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces on April 13, 2026.

A wider humanitarian catastrophe

The conflict, which began between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions since April 2023. According to UNICEF, approximately 15 million people have been displaced, with nearly 33 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has described mass killings and gang rape in Sudan, calling the conflict "a human rights catastrophe."

The UN and its partners have brought more than a million Sudanese children back into some form of learning this year, Mohammed said, offering a glimmer of hope amid the devastation. Yet, as she cautioned, the war is still "depriving the education of its children," and the road to recovery — for the children, their families, and the nation itself — remains long and uncertain.