The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday that Sudan has become the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, with an estimated 9.5 million people uprooted across 18 states during the ongoing civil war.

“For nearly three years, Sudanese children have endured a deepening humanitarian emergency driven by violence, displacement, disease and widespread hunger,” the agency said in a statement.

UNICEF said it continues to operate on the ground with partners to deliver life-saving services to children and families affected by the crisis, including health and nutrition care, access to safe water, psychosocial support and education.

However, the agency warned that the crisis in Sudan remains severely under-reported and critically underfunded, limiting the ability of humanitarian actors to respond to growing needs.

Children are the most affected

UNICEF stressed that children are bearing the heaviest burden of the war, reiterating the urgent need for lasting peace and stability across the country.

Since April 15, 2023, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a devastating civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people.