{
  "id": 259579,
  "title": "Sudan's invisible children - born in war with no legal identity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/sudans-invisible-children-born-in-war-with-no-legal-identity-259579",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T00:26:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7kldz4djno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The story of Amira, a 17-year-old Sudanese girl, highlights the plight of children born during and after the civil war in Sudan. Amira lost her family in el-Fasher, the last stronghold of the army in the western region of Darfur, when it fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in October 2023. She and her family were forced to flee and were eventually abducted by RSF members, who held her captive for two months and repeatedly raped her. She became pregnant during this ordeal and gave birth to a son at a humanitarian hub, but she has been unable to register his birth due to the lack of official documentation.\n\nNada, a Sudanese aid organization, has been working to help these families and register the children born out of such traumatic circumstances. However, the process is extremely difficult as it requires identity information, a national number, and a birth certificate, which cannot be obtained when the father is unknown. The organization's director, Abu Bakr Yousif Yaqoub, explains that registering a child in such cases is challenging because the mother is often alone and sometimes herself a child who needs care. Moreover, she may not have the means to care for her baby or obtain the necessary medical care, including essential vaccinations.\n\nThe lack of official registration of these children has severe consequences for their future. They face barriers to education, travel, and obtaining official documents. The Sudanese government's Child Act of 2010 allows for the registration of children born outside marriage, but it relies on the mother's willingness to report the assault, which is often not done due to social stigma and the need for a guardian to accompany them. Sudanese lawyer Majida Idris notes that the reality during war is that civil services have collapsed, leaving thousands of children without official recognition.\n\nThis issue is widespread across Sudan, with many children being born in complex situations without the knowledge of their fathers. The true number of children born as a result of rape is difficult to ascertain due to social stigma, as most women are reluctant to report their experiences. The fear of stigma, danger, and lack of access to services contributes to the stigma surrounding these children, who are not treated as fully human in society.",
  "summary": "Babies born as a result of rape are often unable to get a birth certificate, meaning a life-time of problems.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Sudan's invisible children - born in war with no legal identity",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/sudans-invisible-children-born-in-war-with-no-legal-identity",
        "published": "2026-08-07T00:26:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}