Drone Strike on Sudan Kindergarten Kills Over 10 Children, UNICEF Condemns

The attack, which occurred yesterday, is one of the deadliest assaults on children since the conflict intensified across Sudan.

A deadly drone strike on the Ghadeer locality of Kalogi in South Kordofan has reportedly killed more than ten children between the ages of five and seven inside their kindergarten, sparking international outrage and urgent calls for the protection of civilians. The attack, which occurred yesterday, is one of the deadliest assaults on children since the conflict intensified across Sudan.

UNICEF Representative for Sudan, Sheldon Yett, condemned the incident in the strongest terms. “Killing children in their school is a horrific violation of children’s rights,” he said. “Children should never pay the price of conflict. UNICEF urges all parties to stop these attacks immediately and allow safe, unhindered access for humanitarian assistance to reach those in desperate need.”

A Pattern of Escalating Violence

The strike comes amid a sharp deterioration of security across the Kordofan States since early November. Widespread clashes, drone operations, and ground assaults have resulted in escalating civilian casualties and mass displacement. More than 41,000 people have fled violence in North and South Kordofan in the past month alone, according to humanitarian reports.

Schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure have increasingly come under attack, violating international humanitarian law. Such acts—particularly the killing and maiming of children and deliberate strikes on education and health facilities—are recognised globally as grave violations of children’s rights.

Humanitarian Access Collapsing

Civilians remain trapped in dangerous, inaccessible areas where aid agencies are unable to deliver life-saving support. In South Kordofan, famine has been formally confirmed in Kadugli, and similar catastrophic hunger conditions have been reported in Dilling. Humanitarian workers warn that thousands of children are at imminent risk of starvation if access does not improve.

Medical services across the region are collapsing under the strain of conflict. Hospitals lack medicines, electricity, and qualified staff. Essential supplies such as therapeutic food, vaccines, and emergency equipment are running dangerously low. Many families are surviving without clean water and adequate shelter, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks.

Children in Deep Distress

Beyond physical harm, the psychological toll on children is severe. The attack on the kindergarten has deepened widespread trauma among young survivors, many of whom have already endured repeated displacement, hunger, and fear of renewed violence. Education, a crucial lifeline for stability, has been heavily disrupted. Schools across the region are closed or destroyed, leaving children without learning opportunities or safe spaces.

Humanitarian specialists warn that the long-term impact on Sudan’s children could be devastating, shaping their futures with loss, instability, and emotional distress.

UNICEF Calls for Urgent Global Action

UNICEF continues working with partners to deliver emergency nutrition, medical care, psychosocial support, and clean water wherever access is possible. But the organisation notes that needs far outweigh available resources, and without increased support, more children’s lives will be lost.

“We call on the international community to step up efforts to protect children and provide urgent assistance,” UNICEF said, stressing that children must never be targets in conflict.

The tragedy in Ghadeer serves as a stark reminder of the escalating humanitarian catastrophe unfolding across Sudan—one that demands immediate, coordinated global action.