UN Agency States Twenty Children Killed in Sudan Fighting in January

(MENAFN) At least 20 children lost their lives in Sudan during January, with most of the deaths recorded in the western regions of Kordofan and Darfur, according to figures released on Friday by the UN children’s agency.

The toll was detailed in a newly published report examining the conditions facing children across the region, including those affected by ongoing violence in Sudan.

“In Sudan, in January 2026, at least 20 children were killed, most of them killed in the Kordofan and Darfur states,” UNICEF said.

The agency cautioned that continued fighting is pushing the country’s youngest population deeper into crisis, warning that “millions of children in Sudan require lifesaving assistance, protection and the restoration of essential services.”

The report also highlighted worsening food insecurity, noting that famine has already been confirmed in Al Fasher in North Darfur and in Kadugli in Kordofan, while nearly 20 additional areas remain at high risk.

Control of territory remains divided across the country’s 18 states. The Rapid Support Forces currently hold all five states in the Darfur region, with the exception of parts of North Darfur that are still under army control. The Sudanese army maintains control over most of the remaining 13 states across the south, north, east, and central regions, including the capital, Khartoum.

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF began in April 2023, resulting in thousands of deaths and forcing millions of people from their homes.

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