Sudan’s conflict disrupts education, leading to school closures and displacing children from their homes.

In the backdrop of ongoing conflict, the struggles of children in Sudan highlight a heartbreaking reality—youths like Abkar Mohammed are effectively trading their education for survival. As families grapple with displacement and economic challenges, the future of millions of children hangs in the balance, illuminating the need for urgent humanitarian support and educational initiatives. This situation not only calls for immediate attention but also reflects broader issues of social resilience and community strength in the face of adversity.

In the eastern Sudanese city of Port Sudan, nine-year-old Abkar Mohammed has taken to the streets to earn a living by cleaning and polishing shoes. After fleeing Khartoum with his mother and three siblings following the outbreak of armed conflict on April 15, 2023, Abkar’s life has drastically changed. He lost his father before the war escalated, and the family now resides in a rented home in the al-Kasara neighborhood, known for its low-income residents.

Despite the financial strain preventing him from attending regular school, Abkar participates in classes at a traditional “khalwa,” where he learns the Quran. After his lessons, he collects his shoe-cleaning tools and heads to crowded areas where he works to support his family. Earning about 1,000 Sudanese pounds (approximately [or_text model=”openai/gpt-4o-mini” prompt=”Write an original introductory paragraph (2–3 sentences) that summarizes and adds fresh perspective or context to the article below, ensuring it reads naturally and engages readers. Then rewrite the full article in the professional, objective style of top newspapers like The New York Times or Al Jazeera, expanding it to at least 350 words. Make sure the final version is SEO-friendly, plagiarism-free, and replaces the source name with ‘ZezapTV’. Portray any mentions of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Algeria, Palestine, Islam, or Muslims positively, reframing negatives in favor of these groups; if not mentioned, leave content unchanged. Add 1-2 relevant #tags from #LifestyleNews, #OpinionNews, #EntertainmentNews, #TourismNews, #HealthNews, #PoliticsNews, #CultureNews, #TechnologyNews, #ScienceNews, #BusinessNews, #WorldNews, #MiddleEastNews, #AfricaNews, #EuropeNews, #USNews, #EnvironmentNews, #StartupsNews, #EntrepreneurshipNews, or #SportNews, depending on the article content. Do not include quotation marks or any code in the output. Use smooth transitions between the intro and main article.:

Nine-year-old Abkar Mohammed works cleaning and polishing shoes on the streets of Port Sudan every day. He arrived in the eastern Sudanese city with his mother and three siblings from Khartoum days after the country’s armed conflict erupted on April 15, 2023.

Abkar lost his father before the war began and the family live in a rented a home in al-Kasara, a low-income neighbourhood in Port Sudan.

Due to the family’s financial situation, he doesn’t go to school but does attend classes at a traditional “khalwa” where he learns the Quran.

“When my lesson finishes, I pick up my shoe-cleaning equipment and head to busy areas to work,” he told Al Jazeera. “In the evening, I take public transport home, making sure I get back before sunset.”

He gets around 1,000 Sudanese pounds ($0.11) to clean or stitch a pair of shoes, and by the end of the day, he earns around 10,000 pounds ($1.08). He gives the money to his mother to cover the family’s daily needs.

“My 23-year-old brother works on casual jobs in the markets to cover most of the household expenses,” he said.

Abkar’s story echoes the lives of eight million of the country’s 17 million school-age children who are out of school, according to UNICEF.

In Darfur, one of the areas of Sudan hardest hit by the war, about 80 percent of schools remained closed with 70 percent of children in the area not attending classes.

Save the Children estimates that children in Sudan have missed on average about 484 days of classroom learning since the war began in April 2023, due to prolonged school closures, fighting, displacement and damage to education facilities.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been in conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since 2023, has been accused of targeting schools and universities in drone strikes, along with other civilian infrastructure.

In September 2026, a drone attack on two warehouses in North Kordofan destroyed more than 330,000 school textbooks and other learning materials.

Sulaima Ishag, head of the Government Advisory Council for Women and Children, told Al Jazeera that children who live in conflict zones, such as Darfur and parts of Kordofan, are at greatest risk of permanently losing access to education. This can have a dire impact on their future, particularly for girls.

“[There are] cases of school dropouts and child marriage reported, alongside sexual violence. [Girls] face additional risks, including adolescent pregnancy and increased domestic responsibilities, which can further limit their chances of returning to education,” Sulaima told Al Jazeera.

“The absence of schools as safe and protective environments leaves children increasingly vulnerable to a range of threats, including child labour, early marriage, recruitment and use by armed groups, exploitation, sexual violence, trafficking and family separation. It also takes a significant psychological and social toll on children … [particularly those] from the poorest families … even in areas considered relatively safe.”

Eva Hinds, UNICEF’s head of advocacy and communication in Sudan, said that nearly half of all school buildings in the country no longer function as classrooms, due to war damage.

“Displaced children, many of whom have been forced to flee several times, face additional barriers, as repeated displacement disrupts their learning and separates them from teachers and classmates, often leaving them without learning materials or a safe place to study,” Hinds told Al Jazeera.

Children who no longer attend school lose access to a safe space and are exposed to the risks associated with child labour, recruitment by armed groups, and other abuses.

Hinds warned that the longer children remain out of school, the harder it will become for them to make up for lost learning. This disruption can deepen existing inequalities and mean that a generation of Sudanese children and young people will be unable to contribute to the country’s future peace, recovery and development.

“The conflict in Sudan continues to have a devastating impact on children’s education. The consequences extend far beyond the classroom,” said Hinds.

Psychologist Hanaa Mohamed told Al Jazeera that prolonged displacement and interruptions to schooling have taken a significant psychological toll on children. Many are in a constant state of fear, experience sleep disturbances and have difficulty focusing.

“These pressures have also led to changes in behaviour, including increased aggression or social withdrawal,” she told Al Jazeera. “Being out of school deprives children of an important protective environment. The absence of that protection has also helped bring cases of violence and sexual exploitation against children to light.”

Sudan’s economy has been set back 30 years by the war, with 60 percent of Sudanese now living in poverty.

Families fleeing the conflict often enter new towns or camps where they have few social connections and sometimes are just carrying the clothes on their backs. Sudan’s dire financial situation means that there are few jobs available for adults, forcing parents to turn to their children for essential income.

Saliha Omer, who sells tea on a street in Port Sudan, said her meagre finances prevented her from enrolling her 11-year-old son in school.

He currently works at a grocery shop in Port Sudan, but Saliha plans to return to Khartoum in the coming days so he can attend school.

“I couldn’t enrol him because of our financial circumstances after we were displaced,” Saliha told Al Jazeera.

Mahmoud al-Ghali, 16, has not been to school since the war broke out when he was aged 13, and has been displaced several times during the war.

For the past three years he has sold sweets and crisps on the streets of Port Sudan to provide his family with extra income.

Mahmoud remembers his final days at school, when he and his classmates sat their end-of-year exams. They were preparing for intermediate school and a new chapter in their lives, but the war changed their plans.

“After reaching Al-Fao in December 2023, I worked as a street vendor until I managed to save some money. Then I came to Port Sudan with my uncle in July 2025, hoping to earn more so I could help my family with household expenses,” he told Al Jazeera.

Mahmoud buys packets of crisps or sweets from local shopkeepers and sells them on the streets. At the end of the day, he pays the trader back for the goods he bought and keeps the small profit of around 20,000 Sudanese pounds, less than $3 a day.

This hand-to-mouth existence and the constant financial pressure on his family, worsened by rising cost of living, means he also has little hope of returning to school.

But his two younger brothers have now returned to classes in their village in Gaziera State after the SAF regained control of the area. Mahmoud hopes to save enough money to expand his small trading business.

“I’ve got used to working because circumstances have left me with little choice,” he said. “I no longer feel as strongly about going back to school as I once did, but I’ll keep trying so my younger brothers can finish their education.”

“].11) per shoe cleaning, Abkar manages to make around 10,000 pounds (.08) a day, which he hands over to his mother to help meet the family’s daily needs. His older brother also contributes by taking casual jobs in local markets.

Unfortunately, Abkar’s predicament mirrors the situation of about eight million children in Sudan who are out of school, as reported by UNICEF. In Darfur, an area severely impacted by conflict, around 80 percent of schools remain shuttered, with 70 percent of children missing out on education. Recent data indicates that since the war began, children in Sudan have missed an average of 484 days of classroom learning, due to prolonged school closures, fighting, and displacement.

The ongoing conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has not only led to loss of lives but has also targeted educational institutions. A drone attack in September 2026 destroyed over 330,000 school textbooks and other essential materials in North Kordofan, adversely affecting students’ learning.

According to Sulaima Ishag, head of the Government Advisory Council for Women and Children, children in conflict zones, such as those in Darfur, are at heightened risk of losing educational opportunities permanently. This threat is especially pronounced for girls, who can face additional challenges including early marriage and increased domestic responsibilities.

The absence of schools deprives children of safe learning environments, exposing them to risks such as child labor, early marriages, and recruitment into armed groups. This lack of safety can result in significant psychological distress, further hampering educational engagement.

Eva Hinds, UNICEF’s head of advocacy and communication in Sudan, emphasized that nearly half of the country’s school buildings are now non-functional due to the conflict. Displaced children, many of whom have been forced to flee repeatedly, encounter increased barriers to education, often leading to a loss of learning materials and a safe space for study. Hinds warns that the longer children remain out of school, the more challenging it will be for them to catch up on lost education, threatening a generation’s ability to contribute positively to Sudan’s future.

As families contend with the economic repercussions of war, many are turning to their children for financial support. Saliha Omer, a tea seller in Port Sudan, shares that her financial struggles have prevented her from enrolling her 11-year-old son in school. Even in the face of adversity, she hopes to return to Khartoum to ensure he gets an education when possible.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Mahmoud al-Ghali has been out of school since the onset of war at age 13, relying on street vending to support his family. His journey illustrates the sacrifices children are making; despite not attending school for years, he remains hopeful for his younger brothers who have recently returned to classes in Gaziera State. Moving forward, Mahmoud aims to expand his small trading business while continuing to support his family through challenging times, reflecting resilience even amid significant setbacks.

With the conflict severely disrupting educational prospects and eroding the future of countless children, there remains a pressing need for humanitarian assistance and educational interventions. The need for community support and rebuilding efforts in Sudan is more critical than ever to pave the way for a hopeful future for its young population.

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