Even with the overwhelming challenges, he discovered hope and resilience in their stories.
The continuous conflict in Sudan over the past 19 months has caused immense devastation to millions, especially children.
According to the UN, more than five million children have been forcibly displaced.
In response, UNICEF and its partners have been providing essential health supplies, screening for malnutrition, and creating safe spaces for children to learn, play, and receive support.
A shared experience of conflict
Ishmael Beah, a human rights activist and former child soldier recruited at 13 in Sierra Leone, has collaborated with UNICEF since becoming a Goodwill Ambassador in 2007.
During his time in Sudan, he met children in displacement camps who had endured unimaginable trauma.
Through a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space, he shared his own story of growing up in the midst of a harrowing conflict, prompting the children to open up about their aspirations for the future.
These spaces offer vulnerable children the chance to learn, play, socialize, receive emotional support, and start rebuilding a sense of normalcy.
“Despite the unimaginable challenges they have faced fleeing their homes, they have shown remarkable wisdom that forms the foundation of their resilience,” stated Mr. Beah.
“The strength of the children of Sudan deserves acknowledgment and respect; they refuse to let the conflict shatter their dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, or artists,” he added.
© UNICEF/Ahmed Mohamdeen Elfatih
A displaced child at a UNICEF-supported site in Port Sudan.
The future of Sudan’s youth
The stories of the children mirror the larger crisis unfolding in Sudan, now one of the most urgent displacement crises in the world.
Families are constantly forced to flee, only to be displaced again as the conflict escalates.
Girls face significant risks to their safety, including rape and other forms of sexual violence.
Between January and September 2024 alone, UNICEF confirmed more than 1,500 grave violations against children.
“Without immediate action and additional resources, Sudan is at risk of a catastrophic event that will have serious consequences for the country, the region, and beyond,” warned Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative for Sudan.
Mr. Beah highlighted the resilience and determination of Sudanese youth, stating, “The children of Sudan are incredibly intelligent, resourceful, and optimistic for the future of Sudan.”
“The youth of Sudan that I met are determined to not give up on their country and do not want the world to abandon them either,” he added.
© UNICEF/Ahmed Mohamdeen Elfatih
Ishmael Beah visits children at a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space in Port Sudan.
A call to action
The visit of the Goodwill Ambassador coincided with the launch of UNICEF’s 2025 global Humanitarian Action for Children Appeal on December 5.
The appeal aims to raise $9.9 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 109 million children, with Sudan having the second-largest funding request.
“We must take action now; the children in Sudan cannot afford to wait any longer,” urged the UNICEF Representative for Sudan.
