The airstrike, which occurred on September 20, 2026, targeted two warehouses in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state. The attack, carried out by drones, destroyed over 292,000 school textbooks, 40,000 review books for Arabic and mathematics, and other educational materials. These materials were intended for distribution to children in the state, particularly in areas affected by conflict.
The destruction of these educational materials is expected to have a significant impact on the education of thousands of children in Sudan. According to UNICEF, the materials were set to be distributed in October 2026, marking the beginning of the new academic year. The loss of these materials will exacerbate the existing challenges faced by schools in the region, which already struggle with a shortage of teachers, desks, and educational resources.
UNICEF Representative in Sudan, Angela Kearney, expressed her concern over the destruction of the educational materials. She stated that the loss of these materials is a significant setback for children in Sudan, who have already missed out on years of education due to conflict. Kearney emphasized that every child has the right to education and that this right must be protected.
The destruction of educational materials in Sudan is a significant challenge, particularly in areas affected by conflict. The delivery of educational supplies to these areas is already a complex task, and the loss of these materials will further compromise the ability of children to access quality education. UNICEF has called on all parties to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure, and to fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law.
The airstrike on El Obeid also resulted in the deaths of two people and injured 20 others, according to the Sudanese Doctors' Network. The network condemned the attack, which targeted residential areas, and called on the international community to pressure the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to stop targeting civilians.
The government of North Kordofan and the state's security committee have also condemned the attack on the Ministry of Education and the water sector. The attack has damaged basic services and infrastructure, including schools and water facilities. The government has emphasized that these attacks undermine the state's ability to provide essential services to its citizens.
The incident has sparked widespread concern over the humanitarian situation in Sudan, particularly in areas affected by conflict. The international community has called for an end to the violence and for all parties to respect international humanitarian law. The destruction of educational materials has highlighted the need for urgent action to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in Sudan.
Key points
- Over 330,000 textbooks were destroyed in the airstrike on El Obeid.
- The destruction of educational materials will affect thousands of children in Sudan.
- UNICEF has called on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
