Save the Children: Millions of Sudanese children out of school for nearly 500 days

Millions of children in Sudan have been deprived of education for nearly 500 days since the outbreak of war in April 2023, Save the Children said on Thursday, warning of one of the longest school closures worldwide, Anadolu Agency reported.

In a statement, the British aid organisation said more than eight million children — almost half of Sudan’s 17 million school-aged population — have spent at least 484 days without attending a single classroom. The group described the situation as one of the most severe education disruptions globally, surpassing even the longest school closures seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Save the Children noted that distance learning remains inaccessible for most children in Sudan, as ongoing fighting has disrupted infrastructure, displaced families and devastated communities across the country. Many schools remain closed, damaged by the conflict or repurposed as shelters for displaced families.

The organisation warned that Sudan is facing one of the world’s worst education crises, with millions of children deprived of safe learning environments and increasingly at risk of never completing their education.

The war, which began in April 2023, has severely impacted all sectors of life in Sudan, compounding humanitarian needs and leaving children particularly vulnerable to long-term social and economic consequences.

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