The United Nations has raised alarms about the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, highlighting the particularly devastating impact on women and girls. As the civil war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) rages on, towns like El Fasher in North Darfur remain under siege, exacerbating conditions of starvation, violence, and a growing cholera outbreak. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 50,000 confirmed cholera cases, leading to at least 1,350 deaths. The UN warns that these conditions create a “gender emergency,” as articulated by UN Women Representative in Sudan, Salvator Nkurunziza (JURIST).
Women and girls are increasingly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation due to the weakened protection mechanisms in war zones. There have been reports of widespread gender-based violence, with the Unit for Combating Violence Against Women in Sudan documenting 1,138 rape cases since April 2023, including 193 involving children. Nkurunziza noted that stigma and reporting barriers likely mean these figures are underreported.
The crisis has further deepened food insecurity, with UN Women describing it as profoundly gendered. Female-headed households represent a significant portion of those affected by food scarcity, with 75% facing food insecurity. This, paired with concerns that fears of violence could prevent women from seeking aid, emphasizes the urgency of bolstering aid mechanisms tailored to their needs.
The UN is calling for a structured focus on supporting female-headed households and groups at risk, such as pregnant and breastfeeding women and adolescent girls. It advocates for funding women-led food support initiatives and integrating protection with food assistance strategies to aid recovery. Additionally, monitoring gender-specific outcomes is crucial as efforts continue to stabilize the situation in Sudan.
Tackling this crisis requires a multifaceted approach. The international community is urged to address the systemic vulnerabilities that women and girls in Sudan face, especially in accessing essential resources and protection in conflict zones. Continued attention and action are critical as the humanitarian crisis intensifies.