The UN Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in Sudan has raised significant concerns about the increase in conflict-related sexual violence, particularly against women and girls in the regions of Khartoum and Al Jazira. The HCT reports that the current turmoil has led to a dramatic surge in gender-based violence incidents, revealed by a 288 percent increase in the demand for case management services in the first seven months of this year. Alarmingly, boys and men are also increasingly becoming targets of such violence.
This increase is believed to be exacerbated by food insecurity and water scarcity, which have rendered vulnerable populations more susceptible to exploitation. The HCT highlighted the severity of using sexual violence as a weapon in conflict, noting that it constitutes a violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. The team has called on all conflicting parties to cease these violent acts and adhere to their legal obligations under international law. The Sudanese authorities were urged to take immediate actions to ensure the safety and dignity of all survivors, including female humanitarian workers.
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to devastate the nation. Since the conflict began in April 2023, over 20,000 people have died, and more than 10 million have been displaced, with the crisis reverberating across the region and leading to severe infrastructure and healthcare collapse. This dire situation has drawn attention from international bodies, including the UN, which issued a warning on September 8 about the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Additionally, Human Rights Watch has documented widespread sexual violence in Khartoum, allegedly perpetrated by the RSF. Their report asserts that such acts, including rape and forced marriages, qualify as war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity if systematically directed towards civilians. The prevalent violence further complicates access to healthcare, with most of Sudan’s facilities remaining non-operational.
The UN and other international human rights organizations continue to monitor the worsening conditions and call for immediate international intervention to address both the humanitarian needs and the rising incidences of sexual violence in the conflict-ridden nation.