By Ginaba Lino|CRN_Thousands of children fleeing the conflict in Sudan are finding safety, healing, and hope in Renk County through a psychosocial support programme led by UNICEF, implemented by African Development Aid, and funded by European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
At a busy transit center in Renk, children aged 5 to 12 take part in daily activities designed to help them recover from trauma caused by violence, displacement, and loss. Through drawing, games, basic lessons, and sports, they are gradually regaining a sense of normal life.
Each morning, the child-friendly spaces fill with laughter as children engage in structured play and learning. The programme helps them express emotions, rebuild confidence, and cope with painful memories of war.
Parents say the change is clear. “They are now happier and more active,” one caregiver said. “Before, they were always thinking about what they saw during the war.”
According to Jal Wicjong Chuatway, Acting Senior Social Worker with ADA, the programme also provides case management and helps reunite children separated from their families.
“Many children arrived deeply affected by what they had witnessed, including death along their journey,” he said. “Here, they begin to feel safe again.”
Around 60 to 70 children attend the centre daily, though numbers shift as families move in and out of the transit site. While many separated children have been reunited with their families, support continues for those still at risk.
Despite progress, major challenges remain. There are no formal schools in the transit center, raising concerns about children missing out on education.
“Temporary learning spaces are urgently needed,” Chuatway said. “Without them, children risk falling behind.”
Humanitarian workers warn that children are the most affected by the crisis and require sustained support.
“If we do not invest in them now, we risk losing an entire generation,” he added.
As new arrivals from Sudan slow down, efforts are shifting from emergency response to long-term recovery. Still, the need for support remains critical.
Through the joint efforts of UNICEF, ADA, and ECHO, children in Renk are beginning to heal—rediscovering childhood one game, one lesson, and one smile at a time.