Five million children across Sudan’s Darfur region face extreme deprivation as the civil war enters its fourth year, according to an emergency warning issued by the United Nations children's agency on Tuesday. The warning, known as a “Child Alert,” is used sparingly and signals that conditions have reached critical levels.
Key Takeaways
The UN has issued an emergency warning about extreme deprivation facing five million children across Sudan’s Darfur region as the civil war enters its fourth year. According to Unicef, children are bearing the heaviest weight of the conflict, with reports of killings, maiming, and sexual violence.
- Five-million children in Darfur face extreme hunger and violence
- UN issues first 'Child Alert' for Darfur in 20 years
- Al-Fashir sees at least 1,300 children killed or maimed since April 2024
- Acute malnutrition reaches famine levels in North Darfur
The alert marks the first time in 20 years that Unicef has issued such a warning for Darfur. Sheldon Yett, Unicef’s representative in Sudan, described the situation as dire during a press briefing from Port Sudan. “Children are at a breaking point across the region,” he said.
According to Unicef, children in Darfur are experiencing severe violence and displacement. At least 160 children were reportedly killed, and 85 injured in the first three months of 2026 alone. The situation is particularly grave in al-Fashir, where since April 2024 at least 1,300 children have been killed or maimed. Reports also indicate instances of sexual violence and recruitment by armed groups.
The conflict has exacerbated existing humanitarian crises, with acute malnutrition reaching famine levels in parts of North Darfur as of February. Despite the severity of the situation, Unicef’s humanitarian appeal for Sudan remains only 16% funded, highlighting a lack of global attention compared to previous conflicts in the region.
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