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Sudan faces one of the world’s most severe education crises, with nearly 13 million of 17 million school-age children currently out of school given conflict and displacement since April 2023, which are also preventing around seven million enrolled children from attending. The other six million not enrolled at all risk permanent exclusion from education. As the new academic year began in September 2025, only 45% of schools had reopened. Among those remaining closed, 10% are sheltering displaced families. Teacher shortages, lack of materials, and restricted access continue to block learning opportunities. Flooding expected through October threatens to worsen the situation by destroying infrastructure and forcing further displacement. The prolonged lack of educational access places children at heightened risk of exploitation, early marriage, and armed group recruitment and perpetuates poverty cycles, posing critical long-term humanitarian challenges. (STC 11/09/2025, Jordan Times 11/09/2025, Al Arabiya 11/09/2025)

Since June 2025, over 9,300 South Sudanese refugees have returned from Kakuma and Kalobeyei camps in Kenya, with daily arrivals peaking at over 220 in August. The movement is prompted by food ration cuts that have left 85,000 (45% of camp populations) without assistance, triggering protests. Kakuma and Kalobeyei were hosting nearly 191,000 South Sudanese refugees. Two-thirds of the returnees are children, many arriving through Nadapal town into eastern Equatoria before moving to Budi, Ikotos, Kapoeta, and Torit towns. Families face ambush risks, lack of reception facilities, unsafe sanitation, and exposure to gender-based violence and disease at the border. While many returnees rejoin relatives, host households are increasingly overstretched, leading to overcrowding, food insecurity, and limited health and shelter access. Urgent needs include food, safe water, health services, and protection support especially for children and women, alongside assistance for host communities. (UNHCR 11/09/2025, TRT Afrika 29/08/2025, Radio Tamazuj 14/08/2025)

On 9 September 2025, Israel ordered the estimated one million people in Gaza city to relocate to Al Mawasi in southern Gaza, before beginning a major ground assault on 16 September. By then, only an estimated 350,000 residents had relocated within the city, while 175,000 had fled. The ground assault is expected to last months. The designated ‘humanitarian zone’ of Al Mawasi is already overcrowded and lacks dignified shelter, clean water, and sanitation. Prior to the current influx, Al Mawasi only had one latrine for every 4,000 people. Vulnerable groups, including children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women, face severe risks, with many at high risk of famine. Humanitarian organisations face severe access constraints, and a near-total Israeli blockade limits essential aid supplies. On 16 September, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory declared that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. (CARE 13/09/2025, AA 16/09/2025, IPC 22/08/2025)