Women and girls in the midst of the brutal conflict between rival militaries in Sudan are being disproportionately impacted, including 5.8 million who are now displaced, UN Women stated on Friday.
The need for gender-based violence-related services has increased 100 per cent since the crisis began in April 2023, the UN agency championing gender affairs reported, with up to 6.7 million people needing assistance by the end of last year.
Documented cases of conflict-related sexual violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse have been growing since then, especially in Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan.
Many more cases of abuse perpetrated against displaced women and girls go unreported due to a fear of stigma from other community members and inadequate support, according to UN Women.
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The agency stressed that urgent action is needed to protect women and girls in Sudan and secure their access to food, safe water, and sexual and reproductive health services.
The office of acting Regional Director for UN Women’s East and Southern Africa, Ms. Hodan Addou, is calling on the international community and humanitarian partners to support funding for women-led organizations that are prioritising protecting and empowering women and girls.
“Now, more than ever, the international community must rally together to support women in Sudan, ensuring they have the resources and protection they need to survive and rebuild their lives”.
UN Women is also demanding an immediate halt to the fighting but said that all international efforts to bring about a ceasefire between the RSF militia and Government forces have so far fallen short.
