Since 1983, Save the Children has been a cornerstone of humanitarian and development assistance in Sudan, currently operating across twelve states out of 18 amidst complex challenges our dedicated staff tirelessly implements a wide range of programs. Our presence in Sudan is a multi-sectoral response programming for children and their families, focusing on Health & Nutrition, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Cash and Voucher Assistance, Child Protection (CP) and Child Rights Governance (CRG).
The combination of conflict, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and economic degradation has resulted in 25 million people – 51% of the population and more than half of them children - needing humanitarian support. Sudan is now the largest displacement crisis globally as conflict continues to fuel cross-border displacement. After the conflict broke out on April 15, 2023, we had to briefly pause our operations in some of the conflict-affected areas to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff. However, we swiftly adapted our on-going programs and initiated our emergency response in May 2023.
DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR CHILDREN
Nafeesa*, 24, gave birth to her son, Yaqub*, three days ago, at a site for displaced people in Sudan. She used to live in Khartoum with her husband and seven-year-old son Ali*, but violent conflict forced them to flee their home. Nafeesa says before the conflict started, her life in Khartoum was good, their financial situation was stable, and she had access to quality healthcare for her first pregnancy and birth. Now they’re displaced, it’s difficult for them to afford food and basic supplies like soap. Nafeesa says they’re surviving only with the support of humanitarian organisations and their neighbours’ generosity. Save the Children has deployed its Emergency Health Unit to support mobile health teams in White Nile and Al Gezira States to provide essential healthcare services for host communities and displaced children and adults. Services include treatment for diseases, vaccinations, maternal, newborn and child healthcare, the management of malnutrition cases and psychosocial support. Nafeesa attended Save the Children’s mobile clinic and received pre-natal checks, support to deliver her baby and post-natal care. Mosaab Hassouna / Save the Children
Hassan*, 6, and Fikira*, 3, live in a transit centre in Renk, South Sudan, with their father, Ahmed*, 37 and mother Salma*, 37. They fled the war in Sudan in December 2023 and arrived in the refugee reception centre in Renk three months ago. Joel Bebe/ Save the Children
Baby Sara* was the first baby born at the health clinic in the IDP Reception Centre. Her mum, Asma arrived at an IDP Reception Centre in Gedaref after a roughly two-month long journey on foot from Sinja, the capital of Sennar State, while heavily pregnant. Asma left Sinja due to the escalation of attacks in the city in June 2024, which forced over 400,000 people to flee to Gedaref. Mussab Hassona / Save the Children
Baby Sara* was the first baby born at the health clinic in the IDP Reception Centre. Her mum, Asma arrived at an IDP Reception Centre in Gedaref after a roughly two-month long journey on foot from Sinja, the capital of Sennar State, while heavily pregnant. Asma left Sinja due to the escalation of attacks in the city in June 2024, which forced over 400,000 people to flee to Gedaref. Mussab Hassona / Save the Children
Maab Abdelhalim, 23, is a child psychologist who works at a Child Friendly Space run by Save the Children in Gezira State, Sudan. She fled Khartoum with her family at the end of April 2023, as fighting intensified and they were trapped between two fighting factions. When she reached Gezira, she volunteered to help until she started working with Save the Children when the CFS was set up. Maab oversees many activities that are designed to help children overcome the trauma of what they witnessed. Some of these activities include drawing, dancing, playing or even just talking. Save the Children
