A drone attack hit a school in Shukeiri village on Wednesday, killing 17 people — mostly schoolgirls. Other civilian infrastructure, including a health centre, has come under fire in recent days.
In response to the recent attacks in Shukeiri, Mohamed Kamal, Plan International Sudan’s country director, said:
“Schools must never be targets. Whether in Sudan, Ukraine or Iran, children are dying in classrooms worldwide while seeking education — a fundamental right that warring parties are bound to protect. These violations must end.
We are witnessing a dangerous shift: the lines between military targets and civilian life have blurred.
The attack on the village of Shukeiri highlights the urgent protection crisis facing children in Sudan. Children are being killed in their communities, deprived of their most fundamental right – the right to life. They are not safe in their villages, in their schools, or even in the places where they go for medical treatment. This must end.
These attacks confirm that girls and boys are living in a state of fear and near-total isolation. If children are not safe in their villages, if they cannot go to school without fear of drone strikes, and if healthcare is disrupted because healthcare workers are targeted, then an entire generation is being systematically robbed of its future.
The children of Shukeiri village had the right to learn and live in safety. No more children need to die.
Plan International is calling for the immediate protection of civilians, in accordance with international humanitarian law. All parties to the conflict must distinguish between military targets and civilian facilities, including homes, schools and health facilities.
We call for safe access to education and healthcare, with immediate guarantees that students, teachers, and medical personnel can carry out their essential roles without fear of attack.
We are also calling for unhindered humanitarian access to reach affected communities in White Nile State with life-saving assistance, including medical care, protection services, and psychosocial support for children who have survived unthinkable violence.
Strengthened survivor-centered services for children and families affected by the attack, including confidential psychosocial care, medical treatment, and support for those who have lost loved ones.”
For further information or interview requests, please contact:
Nahid Ali
Communications Manager, Plan International Sudan
Email: nahid.ali@plan-international.org
Evelyn Wambui
Regional Strategic Communications and Media Relations Specialist
Email: evelyn.wambui@plan-international.org
About Plan International
Plan International is an international development and humanitarian nonprofit that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of challenges children face.
We are there from birth until adulthood, and we support children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity, while particularly focusing on the experiences of girls. With more than 85 years of experience, we work to transform lives in more than 80 countries.
We won’t stop until we are all equal.
