Sudan - August 15, 2024

The ongoing armed conflict in Sudan has devastated the lives and futures of millions of children, with schools either destroyed or shut down and over 17 million school-age children lacking access to formal education.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Sudan now faces one of the world's most severe education crises, with approximately 5 million children displaced by the conflict. Many schools in conflict areas have closed due to safety concerns, and hundreds more have been repurposed as shelters for the displaced.

UNICEF warns that the continued disruption to education in Sudan will lead to a generational crisis, with the hopes and dreams of an entire generation hanging in the balance.

In the eastern Red Sea State, which includes the capital Port Sudan, the local education system is overwhelmed by the influx of displaced children, despite the region not directly experiencing the conflict.

Additionally, the conflict has caused severe energy shortages, resulting in power outages lasting 10 to 14 hours daily. These issues, combined with extreme summer temperatures, have further impeded school operations.

The ongoing conflict has sharply reduced government revenue, forcing the Sudanese government to suspend salaries for most public employees. Many teachers have not been paid for over a year, leading to significant attrition within the teaching workforce.

Thousands of Sudanese children have lost their peaceful childhoods. In the shadow of war, children who should be surrounded by books and desks have been forced to flee their homes and schools, while bombings, death, hunger, and displacement have become their daily reality.

With no end in sight to the conflict, Sudan’s children face an uncertain future.

The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out in April 2023. As of May, more than 16,000 have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict erupted, according to the United Nations.

Shotlist:
Sudan - Aug 15, 2024:
1. Various of displaced children;
Sudan - Aug 15, 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Asrar Saber Essam, displaced student (ending with shot 3):
"I have lost my normal life and my dreams have been shattered. I aspired to become a doctor, but with the school closed I feel as though my future and the meaning of life have slipped away. I hope the conflict ends soon so we can return home, go back to school, and reunite with family and friends.";
3. Various of Essam writing on notebook;
FILE: Port Sudan, Red Sea State, Sudan - Date Unknown
4. Various of school campus, students, children;
Red Sea State, Sudan - Aug 15, 2024
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hashim Ali Issa, Acting Education Minister, Red Sea State (ending with shots 6-7):
"We are grappling with numerous challenges, including extreme temperatures, unstable power supply, and overcrowded classrooms packed with too many students. Due to the influx of displaced children, schools have adopted a 'two-shift system,' with three days a week for local students and three days for displaced children.";
FILE: Port Sudan, Red Sea State, Sudan - Date Unknown
6. Aerial shot of school, students;
7. Students in school;
8. Various of empty school;
Red Sea State, Sudan - Aug 15, 2024
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohamed Bilal, spokesperson, Teachers Union, Red Sea State:
"Given the current situation, we are facing numerous challenges. A critical issue for teachers is that many have not received their full salaries. Since the new school year began, no teachers have been paid.";
FILE: Sudan - Date Unknown
10. Various of displaced children lining up;
11. Various of displaced people, tents.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya TV/Middle East Broadcasting Center]