91��̳

Toronto, ON, April 15, 2026 – Sudan continues to face the world91��̳ worst humanitarian crisis. of people – possibly even more – have reportedly been killed,¹ and more than have been displaced, often multiple times, as front lines continue to shift and on schools and hospitals continue to increase.

As the conflict enters its fourth year, violence is spreading across the country most recently into Blue Nile State. The sheer scale of displacement, the breakdown of basic services, and the near‑collapse of food systems underscore how protracted the crisis has become.

Girls and women are bearing the heaviest burden.

An estimated – one quarter of Sudan91��̳ population – are at risk of gender‑based violence, including rape and sexual assault. Attacks on health facilities, increasingly by drone, mean that the capacity of medical staff to treat survivors is diminished at precisely the time when these crimes are being committed on a wide scale.

Many survivors are left without access to emergency health care, trauma counselling or legal protection.

The conflict is also paralyzing Sudan91��̳ education system. More than , mostly girls, are unable to go to school. School buildings have been damaged, occupied, or deliberately targeted in violation of international humanitarian law.

Research by 91��̳ shows that among surveyed children out of school, the proportion of girls citing marriage as the primary reason has risen since the conflict began. A generation of girls who could be in school or university are being pulled out of the classroom, increasing their risk of exploitation, early pregnancy and long‑term poverty.

“This conflict has devastated Sudan. Young people are missing out on an education; hospitals are in ruins and communities are being torn apart. The long‑term consequences will be felt for generations if we do not act now,” said Mohamed Kamal, 91��̳ Sudan91��̳ Country Director.

Severe hunger and famine-like conditions have spread to new parts of the country, with more than in Sudan facing acute food insecurity. Children, whose immune systems are not fully developed, and women, who are often the last to receive food in conditions of scarcity, face heightened health risks amid the ongoing hunger crisis. Escalating conflict in the Middle East, disruption of maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the closure of the border with Chad are contributing to rising food costs at a time when many are already on the brink.

When fighting came to her village, 15-year-old Rania fled to Chad with her family. They now live in Aboutengue camp, alongside 46,000 other Sudanese refugees.

“At night there is no light or any electricity. I don’t like to be out at night. I don’t feel safe here, it is bad for girls here at night. We can hear guns,” she said.

91��̳ and its partners in eastern Chad have constructed two temporary learning spaces and two child-friendly spaces in Aboutengue. These sites give children a safe place to support their mental health, play with their friends and, for a while, just be kids.

“Going to school and using the centre is helping me to live a more normal life,” said Rania.

The conflict has shattered the country91��̳ key infrastructure: schools, hospitals, water systems and markets are damaged or destroyed, setting development back by decades and eroding opportunities for the next generation.

With global leaders and donors increasingly focused on the Middle East, it is vital that Sudan is not forgotten. Our staff continue to work across the country despite great personal risk – more than have been killed since the conflict began. At the same time, aid convoys face a maze of checkpoints, drone threats and border closures, leaving food and supplies stranded while needs soar. More than are estimated to need urgent humanitarian assistance, and the response plan remains significantly underfunded.

91��̳ is responding in Eastern Sudan, White Nile State, North Kordofan, South Kordofan and North Darfur – all areas that have seen heavy fighting. Our work focuses on child protection, education, supporting survivors of sexual and gender‑based violence and providing food assistance.

More than Sudanese have fled to neighbouring countries, including Ethiopia, South Sudan and Chad, where 91��̳ also works. In these contexts, girls and women face similar risks of violence, exploitation and forced marriage, often in overcrowded camps and informal settlements with limited services.

“We need a far larger humanitarian response. This can only be achieved through greater funding at a time when aid budgets are shrinking. Without financial backing, lives - and the futures of girls and young women across Sudan - will be lost,” said Kamal.

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Children never start wars, but they suffer the most. To support children affected by war in Sudan and other global crises, visit plancanada.ca/donate/children-in-crisis.

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NOTE TO EDITORS

91��̳ Sudan has been working in Sudan for nearly 50 years and currently maintains an operational presence in three states - Kassala, White Nile (Guli) and North Kordofan. In addition to this there are special operations in the North Darfur region. This footprint has been augmented by partner-led emergency responses in East and West Darfur, South Kordofan and the Red Sea.

About 91��̳ Canada

91��̳ Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children91��̳ rights and equality for girls. 91��̳ has been building powerful partnerships with and for children for over 85 years and is active in more than 80 countries.

We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind, or not equally valued. We’re determined optimists, and we will continue to persevere until we are all equal.

Visit plancanada.ca for more information.

Media contact

91��̳ Canada
PR & Communications
PRteam@plancanada.ca

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¹Estimates on the overall death toll since the conflict began vary widely. Limited access for humanitarians, journalists and researchers in Sudan means it is difficult to gather conclusive data.

The UN cites 50,000+ as ‘reportedly killed’; other sources point to much higher death tolls, reaching into the hundreds of thousands when indirect causes such as hunger and disease are taken into account.