Shelling Strikes Sudanese School in Sudan's Conflict Zone
In August 2024, the Abu Sitta girls' school in el-Obeid, North Kordofan state, Sudan, came under devastating shellfire. The attack resulted in the deaths of the English teacher and 13 students, with dozens more injured. Regional authorities have attributed the shelling to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in conflict with the Sudanese army. The RSF has not commented on the incident.
Among the injured was 18-year-old Makarem, who sustained a shoulder injury and a head wound from shrapnel. Her twin sister, Ikram, who was in a separate part of the school, was unharmed. Due to the absence of ambulance services, local residents transported Makarem to a hospital. A subsequent CT scan revealed a piece of shrapnel lodged in her head. The Abu Sitta school, which typically enrolls about 300 students, closed for three months for renovations following the attack.
Resilience Amidst Return
Despite initial reluctance, students, including Makarem and Ikram, returned to the renovated school. The headteacher, Iman Ahmed, reported that students received psychological support upon their return, and facilities were provided for injured students to take exams. While el-Obeid still experiences drone attacks, students have been observed engaging in activities in the school courtyard.
The headteacher characterized the students' return to studies as an act of defiance and loyalty to those who were lost.
Sudan's Broad Educational Crisis
Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023, has led to over 150,000 deaths and millions displaced. The United Nations has described the situation as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The Kordofan region, rich in oil, remains a significant front line in the ongoing conflict.
The war has severely impacted education across the country, with approximately 13 million of Sudan's 17 million school-age children currently out of school. In North Darfur, for instance, only 3% of schools are operational.
El-Obeid was under siege by the RSF for over 18 months until the Sudanese army regained control in February 2025, leading to relative calm. However, many schools in the city have been repurposed as shelters for nearly one million displaced individuals. This conversion creates significant challenges for education, including sanitation issues, as noted by Walid Mohamed Al-Hassan, the minister of education in North Kordofan state. Unlike some other institutions, the Abu Sitta school has not been converted into a shelter.