Beyond the War: The Silent Struggles of Displaced Youth in Sudan

For many young Sudanese, war and displacement have not just been distant tragedies but a life-threatening reality. As Sudan goes through one of the worst humanitarian crises in its modern history, young people are bearing the brunt of conflict, economic instability, and political turmoil. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that approximately 9 mn people – one in every five individuals in the country – have been displaced since the eruption of war on 15 April 2023. Most of the displaced are young and find themselves facing an uncertain future, whether in refugee camps or on perilous migration routes. They escape from quick death only to face a lingering one.

Despite their suffering, their voices are still absent from international debates. The media often focuses on the political and military landscape, while the individual stories of displaced youth, their ambitions and daily struggles remain far from global attention.

A Generation in Limbo: Displacement and its Impact on Sudanese Youth

Displacement was not a new phenomenon in Sudan, as the country has witnessed repeated waves of forced displacement, whether due to civil wars or economic disasters. However, since the latest crisis erupted, the situation has worsened unprecedentedly, and young people are at the centre of the tragedy. According to the United Nations (UN), Sudan is experiencing the worst internal displacement crisis, with nine mn displaced and three mn refugees abroad. The crisis has severely impacted 16 mn children in desperate need of aid, while 12.1 mn people, primarily women and girls, require protection from violence and exploitation.

Lost Education: When Education Becomes a Distant Dream

Education, which is supposed to be a tool for liberation and breaking the cycle of poverty, has become a distant dream for the young. The closure of universities and schools has disrupted classes for millions of students, while some educational institutions have become shelters for the displaced.

The direct impact of the war on education is deaths or injuries among students and education workers, the destruction of facilities, the cessation of schools and universities, and psychological trauma. According to the African Centre for Justice and Peace, the war has closed nearly 1,500 schools, leaving 19 mn children without an education.

Given that the average duration of civil wars is about 15 years, the collateral damage will lead to prolonged disruption of education, the eventual departure of many students and teachers, and the obstruction of the reconstruction process. Even if the war ends, it usually takes many years to rebuild educational facilities and restore the educational system, when entire generations of children will have lost their fundamental right to education.

In the current war, schools and universities have been targeted for various reasons, such as destabilising or seising educational facilities for military purposes. Such as the destruction of the most prominent Sudanese university, the University of Khartoum, or the attack launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of El-Obeid on 14 August 2024, which resulted in many deaths and injuries, including the killing of five students and the injury of 42 students after shells fell on several schools in the city.

Key challenges:

• Cessation of studies in educational institutions: The ongoing conflict has forced millions of students to suspend their academic future. It has also destroyed educational infrastructure, making returning to the classroom nearly impossible in many areas.
• Distance learning is unavailable: With the collapse of infrastructure and the lack of internet and electricity, e-learning has become an unrealistic option for most students.
• Obstacles in host countries: Sudanese students face difficulties enrolling in schools and universities in neighboring countries due to high fees or legal restrictions.

Proposed solutions?

• Support community education initiatives in refugee camps, as some local and international organisations do.
• Providing free scholarships and distance learning programs for Sudanese students in partnership with international universities.
• Pressure host countries to ease educational admission restrictions on Sudanese refugees.

Unemployment and Displacement: The Battle for Survival

Even before the war, unemployment rates in Sudan approached 50% of the labour force, the majority of whom were young, 15-24 years old.

Amid this catastrophic war, many displaced youths are forced to work in exploitative environments and low-paid jobs, if at all. The situation reflects their struggles and desperate efforts to survive.

Key challenges:

• Economic collapse: The closure of government institutions, businesses, and factories caused thousands of workers to be unemployed.
• Child labor and exploitation: Harsh living conditions have pushed children and young people to work in inhumane conditions, with increasing reports of human trafficking and child labor.
• Lack of opportunities abroad: Many Sudanese who have sought refuge abroad lack job opportunities that match their university degrees and skills.

Proposed solutions?

• Vocational training: Provide urgent training to assist young people in acquiring skills in in-demand professions, such as programming and handicrafts.
• Financial support: Provide financial support for entrepreneurs and small business projects and ideas to generate income for themselves and those who work with them.
• Advocate for employment opportunities: Urge the host countries to provide employment opportunities for the displaced youths.

Psychological Pain and Trauma: The Hidden Wounds

The effects of war and displacement are not only physical but extend to psychological and emotional pain and suffering. The war has left a profound psychological tragedy on young people, with many suffering from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and feelings of frustration and hopelessness. However, psychology remains a taboo subject for the majority of Sudanese, and psychological support services are almost non-existent.

Key challenges:

• Poor mental health infrastructure: There are very few doctors and psychologists in Sudan, with one psychiatrist for every two and a half million people and fewer in refugee camps. This acute shortage of psychiatrists makes psychological support for those affected by war and displacement a significant challenge in the increasing needs due to the trauma associated with war and displacement.
• Social stigma: Psychological problems are often ignored or minimised, preventing many people with mental disorders from seeking help.
• The psychological impact of the war: The ongoing war has had severe psychological effects, with many experiencing horrific scenes of violence, losing family members and belongings, and others being forced to join one side of the conflict. These experiences have instilled severe psychological pain, such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. For example, in a report for Sky News Arabia, more than half of the population of the combat zones in Khartoum suffers from stress and psychological balance due to the constant fighting, displacement and loss of family and property. All these adverse psychological effects require urgent attention to provide psychological assistance to Sudanese youth affected by war and displacement.

Proposed solutions?

• Establish mobile mental health units to provide support in displacement camps.
• Training community leaders and teachers to provide psychological first aid.
• Launch awareness campaigns to reduce mental health stigma and encourage open discussion.

Resilience and Innovation: How are Sudanese Youth Resisting?

Despite all these challenges, young Sudanese refuse to be just a victim. Many have found alternative ways to advance their communities and rebuild their lives. During this war, and before the December 2018 revolution, Sudanese youth are leading a massive wave of digital activities, using social media to document violence and abuses committed by police forces as well as raise awareness and fundraise. Others have resorted to community organising and grassroots initiatives to build support systems and find alternative solutions.

Examples of youth-led initiatives:

• Community initiatives: Teachers and students organise temporary schools in IDP camps to ensure continuity of education. In Al Gedaref state, for example, youth initiatives aimed at supporting the displaced were launched, including distributing food, clothes and sleeping supplies.
• Digital activism: Sudanese youth use social media to document human rights violations, spread news, and raise funds for displaced families.
• Entrepreneurial efforts: Some displaced youth have set up small businesses, including online stores and independent services, to support their families, such as small projects that help women and girls displaced by war and displacement.

Although war and displacement have taken many young Sudanese, they have not taken their will to build their lives and society. Sudanese youth are not just survivors, they are change-makers. They are not only victims of displacement and war; they are the driving force behind the country’s future. If ignored, Sudan will be doomed to catastrophe and generational change. By supporting and listening to displaced youth, we can contribute to shaping a future in which they are more than just survivors but change-makers.

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Alemam Hammad is a Junior Economist specialising in economic development. He holds a master’s degree from Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and a bachelor’s degree in Economic and Social Studies from the University of Khartoum. He recently wrote an article titled, ‘A Digital Cold War: National Sovereignty, Economic Interests, and the Fate of TikTok’, for the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies’ online newsletter, Zajel.