Hundreds of children have been tragically separated from their parents while escaping intense violence in Sudan's West Darfur region, according to aid officials. The youngsters are now arriving alone at a refugee camp, having witnessed atrocities and endured perilous journeys.
Mass Displacement and Lost Children
The crisis escalated in late October when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of el-Fasher, the last major army stronghold in North Darfur. The United Nations reports that this triggered a mass exodus, with more than 100,000 people fleeing the city.
UNICEF has documented a deeply concerning trend at a refugee camp in Tawila, located roughly 70 kilometres west of el-Fasher. Between 26 October and 22 November, the agency recorded the arrival of 354 children without their immediate family members. Officials state that during the chaotic escape, many parents disappeared, were detained, or were killed.
Trauma and Malnutrition in the Camps
The Norwegian Refugee Council provided an even higher estimate, stating that at least 400 children have reached Tawila without their parents. Mathilde Vu, an advocacy manager for the NRC, explained that many children were helped by extended relatives, neighbours, or even strangers who refused to leave them behind in the desert or the war-torn city.
The physical and psychological state of the children is dire. "Many children arrived with clear signs of hunger, extremely skinny. They’re so bony, dehydrated," Vu described. She added that many show severe psychological distress, becoming restless, mute, or withdrawn. Other symptoms include constant crying, describing nightmares, and getting into fights.
Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, echoed these concerns, characterising the arriving children as "bewildered, malnourished and dehydrated." He expressed shock at the level of violence they witnessed, stating, "Seeing their mothers disappear and, in some cases, family members are being shot. It's beyond anything I’ve heard."
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis and Faltering Truce
Despite some positive news—UNICEF successfully reunited 84 children with their families over the past month—the overall situation remains critical. Aid workers are providing psychological support, but Vu of the NRC reports that many children still sleep on the ground and are lucky to get one meal a day.
"People are hungry, thirsty, they need education, they need healthcare, they need psychosocial support and we need to give them now and not wait for peace to come into Sudan," Vu urged.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese military, which began in 2023, has had devastating consequences nationwide. The World Health Organization estimates at least 40,000 deaths and a staggering 12 million people displaced, though aid groups believe the true death toll is far higher.
While the RSF agreed to a US-led humanitarian truce earlier this month, Sudan's military has demanded the paramilitary force completely withdraw from civilian areas and disarm, leaving the prospects for peace uncertain.
