Sudan's lost children: Hundreds flee El-Fasher alone amid paramilitary violence

A hidden tragedy is unfolding in Sudan's Darfur region as hundreds of children, separated from their families, are arriving alone in the city of Tawila after fleeing intense violence in El Fasher. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), at least 400 unaccompanied minors have been registered, though the actual number is believed to be far higher, marking a severe child protection crisis within Sudan's broader civil war.

A Desperate, Solitary Flight

These children have undertaken perilous journeys, walking for days without adequate food or water to escape the city of El Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on October 26 after an 18-month siege. Aid workers on the ground report the children arrive exhausted and showing acute signs of trauma. Many have lost their parents during the escape or do not know their fate, while others reported encountering armed groups along the way. The UN reports over 100,000 people fled El Fasher in the month following its capture, with many heading to already overwhelmed camps in Tawila.

A Collapsing Safe Haven and Mounting Risks

Tawila, ill-equipped for such an influx, is facing a collapse in services. The NRC states at least 15,000 new people have settled there since late October, with an average of 200 children arriving daily. Teachers like Nidaa describe children too traumatized to speak and plagued by nightly nightmares. The environment of profound insecurity creates extreme risks for these vulnerable minors, including abduction for human trafficking, sexual violence, forced recruitment by armed groups, and even organ trafficking.

International Appeals and a "Crime of the Worst Kind"

The situation has prompted urgent calls for international intervention. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has described the events in El Fasher as constituting "crimes of the worst kind." Humanitarian experts warn that without immediate action to protect civilians and halt rights abuses, the suffering will intensify. The crisis underscores the complete breakdown of protection for civilians in Sudan's conflict, where children are paying the highest price, facing not only immediate violence but also a future stripped of family, safety, and childhood.