From Violence to Resilience: The Impact of Conflict on Women and Girls in Sudan

Gender-based violence is one of the most egregious consequences of the conflict in Sudan. According to UNHCR reports, almost 7 million people are at risk of gender-based violence. Reports from different organizations state that Sudanese women and girls face alarming levels of sexual violence, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking both in conflict zones, during displacement, and in hosting countries.

This is not the first time that cases of sexual violence have been reported in Sudan. Already during the 2018 revolution, in which women constituted a very important part of the people who took to the streets, they once again suffered the patriarchal yoke. In Darfur, a region of the country particularly hard hit by recurrent conflicts, women and girls have been and continue to be victims of countless atrocities and disregard for their human rights.

Now, we are receiving more and more testimonies from Sudanese women who dare to tell what has happened to them. Stigma, fear of reprisals, shame, lack of support, and lack of access to necessary services or authorities are just some of the important obstacles and reasons that make us think that few cases are reported. The reality is probably much greater and more severe.

In addition to the already devastating gender-based violence, women and girls in Sudan continue to face multiple other consequences of the conflict. As I talk to a female colleague in Sudan who lost her brother to the war, she reminds me that thousands of women have lost their husbands, sons and daughters, relatives, and friends. In addition to living with atrocious grief, the lack of access to sanitation, safe and dignified toilets, and things as basic as clean drinking water has exposed them to serious dangers. “Women and girls are suffering tremendously in Sudan. We need peace to come,” she said.

Meanwhile, the war continues. Some of the most at-risk include pregnant women, who face enormous difficulties in accessing health services, as many have been destroyed or are many miles away from the shelters where they now live. Prices in Sudan have skyrocketed because of the conflict, and transport costs are prohibitive. This not only forces them to walk for hours, exposing them to abuse and harassment, but also prevents them from accessing the country’s few health services. As a result, many women have lost their lives during childbirth or suffered serious complications due to a lack of proper medical care.

The country’s recently declared cholera epidemic has added an additional layer of suffering for women and girls. Cholera, a highly contagious disease that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, spreads rapidly in overcrowded conditions, especially with the lack of sanitation and safe water. Women and girls in Sudan are responsible for fetching water, cooking with potentially contaminated water, and caring for their families. They need to travel long distances to obtain water, which increases their risk of exposure to cholera or other waterborne diseases. In addition, as the main caregivers of sick people in their families, their risk of contracting the disease is higher.

The destruction of markets in Sudan has left many women without their sources of income. This situation not only affects their food security and livelihoods, but also exposes them to greater risks of exploitation and abuse as they seek alternatives to earn a living. In an attempt to access other markets, women take long and dangerous treks. During their journey, they are at risk of being raped, harassed, kidnapped, or even killed. Not to mention that the disproportionate burden of care responsibilities limits their ability to participate in economic and educational activities, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and dependency.

Despite these challenges, Sudanese women have shown immense resilience and leadership, both in the past and in the present conflict. The Peace for Sudan Platform, which encompasses more than 49 women-led initiatives and organizations, is not only monitoring cases of gender-based violence, but aims to increase women’s participation in sustainable peacebuilding.

The feminist movement in Sudan, community organizations, and neighborhood networks, many of which are led by women, are also playing a crucial role in the distribution of humanitarian aid. At Action Against Hunger, where protection is one of the primary pillars of our humanitarian response in Sudan, we know that without these organisations we cannot work. At Action Against Hunger, we support the establishment of women’s centres and the development of community protection networks. In addition to supporting survivors of gender-based violence through a secure hotline, psychosocial support and medical care, teams in Sudan work tirelessly to organize awareness sessions, form women’s groups and launch gender-based violence awareness clubs in schools.

It is imperative that we recognize and support these women’s networks, as they are the backbone of resistance and hope in Sudan. The resilience and leadership of Sudanese women offer a light of hope amid darkness. It is crucial that the international community take immediate action to ensure the protection of women and girls, support their economic empowerment, and encourage their inclusion in peace negotiations, decision-making and planning for a safer future.

About Action Against Hunger in Sudan

Action Against Hunger has been working in Sudan since 2018. Since the start of the conflict, Action Against Hunger teams have intensified emergency response efforts. Operating in White Nile, Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Central Darfur, teams supported nearly half a million people last year alone. Despite difficult security conditions, the organization continues to provide food assistance, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene services, and protection, especially to women and girls, as they face increased risk of gender-based and sexual violence when trying to access resources and humanitarian aid.