UNICEF Says 23 Children Killed in Escalating North Kordofan Violence

NEW YORK – At least 23 children have reportedly been killed and 25 others injured in North Kordofan State over the past two months as fighting intensified around El Obeid, UNICEF said on Tuesday.

The agency said the latest incident occurred on July 24 in the Burbur area south of El Obeid, where at least four children—two boys and two girls aged between eight and 16—were reportedly killed. The incident brought the total number of children reported killed or injured in July to at least eight, according to UNICEF.

The UN agency said reports indicated that at least 10 children were killed or injured in May and 30 in June, with the youngest victim only two months old.

“Four more children have lost their lives in a conflict that continues to put children and their families in grave danger,” Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative for Sudan, said in a statement.

“Behind every number is a child whose life has been cut short and a family whose future has been altered forever. Children continue to be the victims of this conflict. Their safety, their rights and the services they depend on must be protected,” he added.

The warning comes as fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified across North Kordofan, particularly around El Obeid, Bara and surrounding areas, where both sides have launched major military operations in recent weeks.

Across Sudan, children continue to bear a disproportionate share of the conflict’s toll. UNICEF said at least 330 children were reportedly killed or injured during the first six months of 2026, as continued violence, repeated displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure left millions of children exposed to growing risks.

The conflict, which began in April 2023, has displaced millions of people and triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. The United Nations has repeatedly warned that ongoing hostilities, attacks on civilian infrastructure and restricted humanitarian access continue to endanger children and disrupt access to education, healthcare and clean water.

UNICEF called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, particularly children, and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including safeguarding schools, health facilities, water systems and other civilian infrastructure.