Sudan: 8 million children excluded from school amid conflict

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has triggered a massive educational crisis, with approximately 8 million children currently excluded from the school system. According to data from the Sudanese Teachers Committee and UNICEF, this figure represents nearly half of the estimated 17 million school-aged minors in the country.

Infrastructure has been severely impacted, with 55 percent of schools remaining closed. In the Darfur region, school availability has dropped to just 3 percent. Additionally, one in ten school buildings has been repurposed as military barracks or shelters for displaced persons, while many others have been damaged or destroyed by bombings.

Beyond the loss of schooling, the humanitarian situation is worsening due to drone attacks on civilian areas. UNICEF reports that between January and September 2026, over 400 children were killed or injured. Recent drone strikes on markets in Nyala and Abyei have specifically targeted locations where families gather for food and commerce, further endangering civilian life and essential infrastructure.