Plan International condemns deadly drone attacks on schools and civilians in Sudan
8 December 2025Plan International is outraged by the recent drone attacks in Sudan, including the attack on the Al-Hanan kindergarten for children in South Kordofan, which resulted in the deaths of 96 people, 43 of whom were children.
At least 4 separate drone strikes were reported on 4 December in South and North Kordofan states with 2 hitting the kindergarten in Kalogi, 1 hitting a hospital where the injured had been taken for treatment, and 1 hitting a convoy transporting food to North Darfur, seriously injuring the driver.
“I am at a loss of words. I am heartbroken for these children and their families. What hope can we give the children of Sudan for a better future if we cannot guarantee their safety at a kindergarten?” said Mohamed Kamal, Country Director for Plan International Sudan.
The attack on the kindergarten in South Kordofan occurred just two weeks after the tenth anniversary of the Safe Schools Declaration, a global commitment endorsed by 121 states to protect students, teachers and schools during armed conflict. This attack highlights the alarming increase in attacks on schools and their tragic impact on children and teachers.
An assault on hope
Emilia Sorrentino, Plan International’s Head of Global Education in Humanitarian Action, said: “These are not just attacks on education facilities, they are an assault on hope, they eradicate futures, crush dreams, and dismantle the very foundation of community recovery. The violence heightens a child’s vulnerability to exploitation, abuse, and recruitment by armed groups, leaving deep and lasting psychological scars on an entire generation.”
Plan International has consistently and repeatedly urged all armed actors in Sudan to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. This includes the strict and unconditional prohibition of targeting civilians and humanitarian workers, and the use of weapons that risk causing indiscriminate harm to civilians, such as drone strikes. It also includes the prohibition of grave violations against children. However, the recent escalation in violence in parts of the country has included drone strikes, which have had a devastating impact on civilians.
“We have already seen the devastating consequences of inaction in the humanitarian catastrophe that unfolded in El Fasher, North Darfur, despite months of repeated appeals to prioritise the protection of civilians. The recent escalation in the Greater Kordofan region is a precursor of yet another inevitable crisis right in front of our eyes. Something has to change; action must be taken now to save lives.”
Grave violations
The United Nations Secretary General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict has reported an unprecedented scale of grave violations against children in Sudan. More than 2000 such violations have been verified, including the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, the killing and maiming of children, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, the abduction of children, and the denial of humanitarian access.
Plan International reaffirms its commitment to standing with children in Sudan and advocating for their safety, education and future. “Schools must be safe spaces, not zones of fear,” added Mr Kamal.
Plan International is currently responding to the humanitarian situation across Sudan, including in North Darfur and the Greater Kordofan states, by providing emergency food and non-food items to those displaced by the conflict. We are also providing mental and psychosocial support, and establishing child-friendly spaces to serve as safe places for children.
Categories: Education, Emergencies, Protection from violence
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