Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, addressed the Security Council on Friday, August 7th, 2026, highlighting the devastating impact of the ongoing war in Sudan on children’s education and safety. Speaking during an informal meeting focused on safeguarding education in Sudan, she emphasized that the conflict has deprived the country’s future by keeping millions of children out of school.

Mohammed reported that at least eight million school-aged children remain outside classrooms, disproportionately affecting millions of displaced children, including those who have fled abroad. In Darfur, nearly 75% of schools have been damaged, destroyed, or rendered non-functional since fighting began in April 2023. She stated, “Five children in every six are out of school, and parents would rather keep their children at home than send them to classrooms, as home is the only place they feel safe.”

Since 2024, the UN has verified over 67 attacks on schools and more than 154 instances of military use of educational facilities across Sudan, though the actual figures are believed to be higher. Mohammed described these attacks as “frontal assaults on children’s safety and their dignity,” noting the loss of protective spaces and access to essential services like school feeding programs, healthcare, and mental health support.

Despite efforts this year by the UN and partners to reintegrate over one million Sudanese children into some form of learning, Mohammed stressed that it remains insufficient. She concluded, “Sudan’s children have waited 1,210 days for the war to end. They should not have to wait any longer.”

The Deputy Secretary-General called for renewed and urgent international action to end the conflict and protect the rights and futures of Sudan’s children.

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