UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed called for an immediate end to the conflict during a UN Security Council meeting focused on protecting education in Sudan.
Mohammed said the war has now continued for 1,210 days, leaving about 33 million people — more than half of Sudan’s population — dependent on humanitarian assistance.
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“Among everything this war is taking, one of the most significant is the future of Sudan, depriving the education of its children,” Mohammed said.
She said at least 8 million school-aged children remain out of school, with displaced children facing particularly severe consequences, including those who have fled Sudan for neighboring countries.
The situation is especially critical in Darfur, where nearly three-quarters of schools have been damaged, destroyed or rendered unusable since the conflict began.
Mohammed said five out of every six children in Darfur are out of school, while insecurity has made families increasingly reluctant to send their children to classrooms.
“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 said.
The education crisis is unfolding alongside worsening hunger and displacement.
Mohammed said famine has taken hold in parts of Sudan and that 4 million women and children are expected to face acute malnutrition this year.
Nearly 9 million people have been displaced within Sudan, while millions more have crossed international borders in search of safety, she said.
The UN official called for those responsible for atrocities to be held accountable and urged respect for the rule of law.
“This war has to end, and it has to end now,” Mohammed said.
Sudan has been engulfed in fighting between the country’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. The conflict erupted over disagreements surrounding the planned integration of the RSF into Sudan’s military.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, while severely damaging essential services and infrastructure.
The UN’s latest warning highlights the long-term consequences of the conflict beyond immediate casualties and displacement. With millions of children unable to attend school, the war risks leaving lasting damage to Sudan’s education system and the future prospects of an entire generation.
