Sudan's invisible children - born in war with no legal identity
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has left thousands of children without legal identities, as many are born to mothers who were victims of sexual violence and cannot provide paternal information. This lack of documentation prevents these children from accessing basic rights and services.
Why it matters
This highlights the severe, long-term humanitarian consequences of the Sudanese conflict, specifically regarding the rights and future of children born in war zones.
Image caption, If a mother cannot provide the name of her child's father, she is often unable to get a birth certificate
Warning: This story contains details some may find distressing
A 17-year-old Sudanese girl holds a young child in her arms with a heavy calm that belies her age and the concerns she has for his future.
"This son of mine has no father, no birth certificate and no national number," Amira, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, tells the BBC.
Looking down at him, she speaks slowly as if still trying to grasp the details of what has happened to her since the civil war erupted in Sudan.
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