For the past two years, Sudan has been experiencing a major crisis that threatens its population, its rich heritage, its education system and the safety of its journalists. UNESCO is determined to deploy all necessary emergency measures within the framework of its mandate.
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General
Preventing the collapse of the education system
The closure of most schools has resulted in more than 17 million children having no access to education. At the request of its partners, UNESCO is coordinating the educational response by gathering 34 national and international organisations that are present in Sudan.
As part of this coordinated response, UNESCO has codesigned and is overseeing the implementation of the Transitional Educational Plan, which defines priority actions up to 2027. With nearly $400m in confirmed funding, it will help to guarantee access to education for millions of children, improve teaching content and strengthen the education system as a whole. In the short term, the plan notably involves opening two agricultural training centres in the east of the country, in response to the country's dual food and youth employment crises.
Preventing the disappearance of priceless heritage
Since the start of the conflict, the Organization has supported the authorities in preventing the disappearance of Sudan's heritage, including by digitizing more than 1,700 cultural objects and 100 ancient manuscripts that were under threat. In the coming weeks, UNESCO will also be funding emergency stabilization and security operations at the Archaeological Sites on the Island of Meroe, as well as at Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region, which are listed as World Heritage sites.
In recent weeks, the securing of certain institutions by the authorities, including the National Museum of Sudan in Khartoum, have shown evidence of large-scale looting and significant damage. UNESCO strongly condemns these attacks on cultural heritage.
Faced with the threat of illicit trafficking of cultural property that has been looted from these institutions, this week UNESCO is bringing together in Cairo representatives from law enforcement, justice and cultural sector of Sudan and nine neighbouring countries. Participants will receive training to strengthen their coordination at the regional level.
UNESCO experts will provide details on the scale and impact of looting of Sudanese cultural property and help them to better assess the patterns and routes through which this trafficking operates. They will also share practical tools to combat this trafficking, such as compiling lists of stolen objects, in order to improve surveillance and investigations, and to facilitate the return and restitution of artefacts.
Protecting access to information and the safety of journalists
Since April 2023, UNESCO has condemned the killings of 9 media professionals in Sudan in the line of duty and continues to monitor dozens of other deaths. In addition, more than 90% of Sudanese journalists and media outlets have had to cease their activities.
Journalists play a crucial role in times of conflict, especially by disseminating vital information to the wider population. UNESCO is committed to protecting them and helping them to carry out their work freely and safely. The Organization has resettled more than 80 Sudanese journalists in safe areas, providing them with financial, medical and psychosocial support. It has also provided safety training for around twenty women journalists who are particularly at risk.
UNESCO is also supporting 20 Sudanese media outlets in the dissemination of humanitarian information to civilians. Finally, it has set up a centre in Nairobi (Kenya) specifically for exiled journalists.
About UNESCO
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed" - UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
