THE civil war in Sudan has had a devastating effect on women, and girls and has led to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, according to a report by UN Women. The report, which was unveiled on Friday, found a distinct and disproportionate impact on women and girls, which had led to a twofold increase in sexual violence. The violent conflict had exacerbated risks for women and girls for sexual violence, exploitation, and abuse.
The report was presented by Hodan Addou, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. Speaking from South Sudan, presented findings from a UN Women report which put a spotlight on the impact of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan on women and girls. Some 5.8 million internally displaced women and girls were particularly vulnerable, and a lot of sexual violence was going unreported. Those trends had to end, and appropriate justice mechanisms need to be introduced stressed Addou.
According to the report, with 64 percent of female-headed households experiencing food insecurity compared to 48 percent of male-headed households in ten states, women and girls were eating least and last. Access to health care services was another challenge: 1.63 million women of reproductive age are without adequate services. Among them, over 160,000 are pregnant, and an estimated 54,000 childbirths are expected in the next three months.
Addou said women and girls in Sudan were facing unimaginable challenges, yet their strength and resilience continued to inspire. “Sudan should not become a forgotten crisis,” she said, adding that now, more than ever, the international community had to rally together to support women in Sudan, ensuring they have the resources and protection they need to survive and rebuild their lives.
Together with its partners, UN Women urged the international community, donors, and humanitarian partners to prioritize the protection and empowerment of Sudanese women and girls, including through the increase of funding for local women-led organizations, which received less than two percent of the Sudan Humanitarian Fund’s financial resources in 2023. She said the atrocities in Sudan were simply unacceptable, and UN Women stood with the people of Sudan during this deteriorating humanitarian crisis and called for an immediate halt to the war and a return to the negotiating table for peace dialogues, which would include full women’s participation.
UN Women’s report can be found here.
Responding to questions, Ms. Addou said that UN Women was calling for a cessation of hostilities and protection for all women and girls, accountability, and provision of justice for all victims. Rape and sexual violence were used as a despicable weapon of war, and all perpetrators had to be held accountable. Ms Addou stressed that the looming famine was another grave concern; shocking numbers of people were facing dire conditions in IDP sites. Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that access to healthcare continued to be extremely limited. People were dying due to the lack of access to basic health care and medication. While surveillance was very poor, there were reports of cholera, measles, meningitis, and dengue, said Ms. Harris.
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