Khartoum, June 10, 2026 (SUNA) – The Secretary-General of the National Council for Child Welfare, Dr. Abdel-Gadir Abdallah Aboo, has warned that 71% of children in Sudan are currently in a state of severe risk due to the ongoing war. In a statement to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) on Wednesday, he said the risks include child labour, which stands at 14%, child recruitment at 10%, and children deprived of parental care at 2%, in addition to widespread school dropouts, which he described as the most serious threat to family cohesion and a matter requiring urgent intervention and policy reassessment. He underscored the Council’s role in child protection through an integrated national plan built on care services, social protection, non-discrimination principles, and alternative care mechanisms for the most vulnerable children, with the aim of achieving comprehensive social coverage. Dr. Abdel-Gadir also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Welfare in advocating for child welfare issues and strengthening institutional frameworks to enable councils to fully carry out their protection and care mandates, noting that the Ministry’s annual and five-year plans aim to achieve the highest levels of child protection. He further revealed that the Council conducted a field visit to Uganda in mid-May to examine child protection systems, during which it inspected 12 facilities. He stressed the importance of benefiting from integrated care models, noting that international experience confirms the family remains the primary caregiver, and that institutional shelters cannot serve as a full substitute, thereby requiring stronger support for family-based protection systems. He added that the Minister of Social Welfare, Mua’tasim Ahmed Salih, has directed the Secretariat of the Zakat Chamber to issue health cards for children. Dr. Abdel-Gadir further announced that the Council will mark the World Day Against Child Labour, observed on June 12, in Khartoum State.BH/BH