Sudan’s Youngest Forced into Labour as War and Despair Deepen

Sudan’s Youngest Forced into Labour as War and Despair Deepen

By Aadya Amol

In Sudan, children are increasingly working to survive as the country’s conflict continues to tear families apart. Since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, the humanitarian crisis has deepened, leaving millions displaced and without access to basic needs.

According to UNICEF, around 23 million Sudanese children are now exposed to violence, exploitation, and abuse. Many have lost parents or homes and are being pushed into dangerous work simply to help their families survive. Children are now seen in fields, markets, and gold mines, performing tasks that threaten their health and safety.

The collapse of the education system has worsened the problem. Nearly 17 million children in Sudan are currently out of school, one of the highest figures in the world. Many schools have been destroyed, looted, or turned into shelters for displaced families. Without classrooms, children have little hope of learning, and work becomes their only option.

In Darfur and Kordofan, reports show that displaced children are herding animals, working as domestic servants, or digging in unsafe mining sites. Aid groups warn that child labour is becoming normalized as economic hardship deepens and international support falls short. Families who once dreamed of sending their children to school now rely on them for survival.

Humanitarian agencies and local organizations continue to operate education and protection programs where possible, setting up temporary learning spaces and safe zones. Yet they warn that without more international funding and secure access, millions of Sudanese children will lose their future. The conflict has already stolen their peace — now it threatens to steal their childhood.

"Sudan: Month 7 of Conflict.” UNHCR, 24 Apr. 2024, https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_10/public/2024-04/rf1317127-sudan-month-7-of-conflict.jpg?h=f57d7474&itok=aYgjqthT

Sources

1. European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid – Sudan’s children are suffering: how conflict is destroying their future (2025)

2. UNICEF Sudan – Child Protection Overview (2025)

3. UNICEF Press Release – Child Labour Still Affects 138 Million Children Globally (2024)

4. UNICEF – Geneva Palais Briefing on Children in Sudan: A Generation at Risk (2024)

5. ILO – Addressing Child Labour Among Forcibly Displaced and Host Communities in East Darfur and West Kordofan (2024)

6. UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children: Sudan Appeal (2024)