Sudan’s military is ramping up its efforts to regain control of Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but the conflict is taking a horrendous toll, especially on the nation’s children. Amid the ongoing battles, the young are being ripped apart by violence, hunger, and injuries.

In Omdurman’s hospital, a heart-wrenching scene unfolds as a young girl screams in agony from severe burns inflicted by an explosion. Her mother, Khadija, is also severely burned after shielding her daughter from harm. Though they survived the shelling, their family has lost everything and Khadija cannot afford even basic medical care for her daughter, struggling to provide bandages.

The hospital is overflowing with children in need of urgent medical attention, many of whom have suffered war-related injuries, are malnourished, or are ill. According to Dr. Maha Hussein, the Director-General of the hospital, the ongoing clash with the RSF has resulted in a significant influx of children urgently needing medical help.

A mother whose child is severely malnourished describes her heart-wrenching situation:

“He just can’t gain any weight. We measure him in grams. His older brothers have become violent—obsessed with fighting and naming different types of guns.”

As the conflict intensifies, the trauma extends far beyond physical injuries. Young girls in the region are learning self-defense moves, preparing themselves against the threats of sexual violence and enslavement by the RSF.

In another devastating incident, shelling killed an entire family—eight people, including four children, were lost in a single attack. Hussam, a volunteer mortician, is left to deal with the grim aftermath. “We’re adults. We’ve found all we need in the world, but why were they involved? They were innocent,” he says, visibly shaken by the loss.

Since the war between the Sudanese military and the RSF broke out in April 2023, the conflict has been marred by atrocities, including killings based on ethnic motivations and widespread rape. The United Nations and human rights organizations have denounced these actions, and the International Criminal Court is now investigating potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

As the fighting increases in intensity, the civilian cost mounts, with children at the heart of this devastating conflict.