About 19 million children in Sudan are still out of school as the country's military conflict approaches its sixth month, according to UNICEF and Save the Children in a joint statement issued on Monday.

The two organizations said in the statement that of this number, about 6.5 million children lost access to school due to increasing violence and insecurity in their areas, as about 10,400 schools in conflict-affected areas closed their doors.

Meanwhile, more than 5.5 million children residing in areas less affected by the war are waiting for local authorities to confirm whether classrooms can reopen.

There are 23 million children in Sudan, nearly half of the country's total population. Even before the conflict broke out on April 15, nearly 7 million children were out of school.

The two organizations warned that children in Sudan will not be able to return to school in the coming months if the war continues, which will expose them to immediate and long-term risks, including displacement, recruitment by armed groups, and sexual violence.

The two agencies explained in the statement that spending on social services has witnessed a sharp decline, as teachers in almost all states have lost their salaries since the start of the armed conflict. There is a shortage of educational supplies, and educational facilities are not maintained. Although efforts are underway in a few areas to ensure that education systems in Sudan remain effective, there are significant limitations, and needs are quickly outpacing resources, according to the statement.

UNICEF and Save the Children called on the Sudanese authorities to reopen schools in safe areas, while supporting alternative learning methods in communities where it is no longer possible to open schools due to safety and security concerns.

The two organizations also called on the international community to stand in solidarity with Sudanese children and provide resources and support to ensure that millions of Sudanese children return to school, and to ensure that children affected by the conflict have the opportunity to access learning and psychosocial support in safe places.