A growing wave of displaced children highlights the urgent need for protection as the Darfur conflict intensifies
Hundreds of children are fleeing the Sudan crisis with no parents beside them, arriving in the town of Tawila scared, exhausted, and deeply shaken after escaping the escalating Darfur conflict.
According to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), at least 400 displaced children have reached Tawila alone since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the city of el-Fasher late last month. The true number is believed to be much higher, given the chaos on the ground.
Children are arriving after days of travel through the desert, often without food or water. Many are terrified of armed groups, unsure whether their parents have been killed, detained, or simply lost in the confusion.
El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, fell to the RSF on October 26 after an 18-month siege that cut off residents from essential supplies. The takeover has sparked accusations of mass killings, kidnappings, and widespread sexual violence, though the RSF denies targeting civilians.
The United Nations has condemned the situation, with UN human rights chief Volker Turk describing the atrocities as some of the worst seen in recent years.
More than 100,000 people have escaped el-Fasher since the city fell. Many have crossed into Chad, while thousands more are arriving in Tawila, which sits about 60 kilometers from the devastated city. The NRC reports that at least 15,000 newly displaced people have reached Tawila since late October, including an average of 200 unaccompanied children every day.
Teachers and humanitarian workers say many of the children show signs of acute trauma. Some are unable to speak when they first arrive. Others struggle with nightmares and describe hiding for long periods, traveling only at night to avoid attacks, and losing relatives in the chaos.
The camps in Tawila were already overwhelmed before the latest wave of displacement. A recent estimate suggests more than 650,000 people have sought refuge there over recent months, with the majority living in informal settlements without proper shelter, sanitation, or access to clean water.
These extreme conditions have turned Tawila into a crisis zone of its own, not just an overflow point from el-Fasher.
At the same time, UN experts warn that women, girls, and separated children face a heightened risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Reports of abductions are rising, and there are growing fears that desperate young people may be forcibly recruited into the conflict.
Humanitarian groups are calling for urgent international action to protect displaced families, restore access to basic services, and curb the growing reports of human rights violations.
Conclusion
The suffering in Darfur is worsening, and the stories of terrified, unaccompanied children demand global attention. If this crisis matters to you, share this article, follow for updates, and join the conversation to help raise awareness.