Women and girls in Sudan are disproportionately affected by the ongoing conflict
Necessity based on gender Violence-related services have increased 100% since the crisis began in April 2023, the United Nations gender agency reported that 6.7 million people needed assistance at the end of last year.
Cases of conflict-related sexual violence, exploitation and sexual abuse have increased since then, especially in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan.
Many cases of abuse against displaced women and girls go unreported due to fear of discrimination by other community members and lack of adequate support.
Insufficient food and health care
With food insecurity severe and abuse currently at record highs in war-torn Sudan, female-headed households are being affected more than whose household head is male.
Additionally, 1.63 million women of reproductive age do not have access to adequate health care services, even though about 54,000 births are expected in the next three months.
The warning explains that “Women and girls also continue to be disproportionately affected by the lack of safe, accessible and affordable water, sanitation and hygiene.”
“At least 80% of internally displaced women cannot access clean water due to affordability, safety concerns, and distance,” the report continues.
Education crisis
Girls’ access to education in Sudan is also a major concern as more than 2.5 million school-age girls are unable to return to the classroom. increases the risk of “being subjected to harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation”.
“Women and girls in Sudan are facing unimaginable challenges, Yet their strength and resilience continue to inspire us,” Hodan Addou, acting Regional Director of United Nations WomenEast and Southern Africa office. “We cannot let Sudan become a forgotten crisis.”
Call to action
Urgent action is needed to protect women and girls in Sudan and ensure their access to food, clean water and sexual and reproductive health services, UN Women said.
The Office is calling on the international community and humanitarian partners to support funding for women-led organizations that are prioritizing the protection and empowerment of women and girls.
“Now, more than ever, the international community must rally to support women in Sudanensuring they have the resources and protection they need to survive and rebuild their lives,” Ms. Hodan Addou.
UN Women is also demanding an immediate halt to the fighting, but all international efforts to bring about a ceasefire between the RSF militia and Government forces have so far been unsuccessful.
