Executive Summary: Sudan’s civil war forced a mother to choose which malnourished twin to save with limited medicine funds, highlighting a severe humanitarian crisis where children face starvation and trauma.
In Bashaer Hospital, Khartoum, Touma holds her motionless daughter Masajed, who hasn’t cried for days. After RSF forces looted their home, she fled with nothing. She could only afford antibiotics for one twin, choosing Manahil, leaving Masajed to likely die. “I wish they could both recover,” she says, as doctors predict no survivors on the ward.
The war began in April 2023 between army chief Gen al-Burhan and RSF leader Hemedti, devastating Khartoum. For two years, civilians endured crossfire and drone strikes until the army retook control in March, leaving the city in ruins.
Zaher, 12, lost his legs in a drone strike while selling lentils. His mother, Habibah, prayed for his life, but amputations were necessary. They dream of prosthetic legs so he can play football again, but cannot afford them.
Ahmed, 16, clears war debris in a playground, finding human remains and earning $50 monthly. He has lost contact with six brothers and believes he will die, having given up on future dreams.
Volunteers run makeshift schools where children learn, but teacher Miss Amal says they are traumatized, using violent language and coming from homes with no food. The war has shattered their mental health.
UN data shows three million children under five are acutely malnourished. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and families must pay for medicines, leading to low survival rates in the nutrition crisis.
Amid the destruction, children find joy in football, with Zaher playing on his knees. He dreams of walking to school, but without help, such hopes remain distant in the ongoing conflict.