It is almost two years since the brutal war between the forces of the Khartoum military government and the rapid support disorder militias broke out and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Human rights violations have been committed on both sides, and more than 30.4 million Sudanese demand urgent help, with millions of displaced and tens of thousands killed. Nearly 25 million people are facing acute hunger.
According to the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, there have been rising and alarming reports of sexual violence used to terrorize civilians.
Layla’s story
At the end of 2024, in the northern part of Sudan, men forced themselves into Laylas* home in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital while she was alone with her children. “They arrested my son and took me to a separate car. I noticed that they were looking at my daughter in a disturbing way – she is 18 years old. Probably they took me away to keep her alone. ”, She told UNFPA.
Layla’s fear of her daughter was a precursor to what she would later confront in a crowded prison where she was held for almost three weeks.
A woman who has fled from conflict in Sudan is washing clothes.
‘Unimaginable horrors’
Layla, who tells them that they brought her son back and started beating him in front of her, Layla added that they interrogated her, accused her of being a spy and claiming her husband was working for the army.
Although the Sudanese army recently reintroduced strategic areas of Khartoum, opposition paramilitary forces were on control. Layla described being strip-sought, beaten and detained free of charge.
“I witnessed unimaginable horrors,” she said. “When the officers left, the soldiers would start raping prisoners. They would take young women out in the yard and all night we would hear screams from girls and women. “
Over 12 million women and girls – and increasingly men and boys – are estimated to be at risk of assault, an increase of 80 percent from the previous year.
A growing health crisis
Since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, the situation has deteriorated dramatically, with almost 13 million people by force – almost a third of the population – and the health system all wiped out.
Across Sudan, UNFPA provides reproductive health and protection services through 90 mobile healthcare teams, more than 120 health facilities and 51 secure spaces For the survivor of sexual violence.
This assistance includes clinical treatment and psychological counseling after rape, sexual abuse and assault as well as referrals to legal assistance and awareness among communities on the risk of sexual violence, coercion and trade.
At an UNFPA-supported safe space, Layla explained how she struggled to endure the trial in prison. “One day, a 16-year-old girl was brought back to the cell and bleeding heavily,” she remembered. “She came to me, embraced me, and we cried together for a whole day.”
UNFPA provides reproductive health and protection services at dozens of places in Sudan.
After nine days in prison, Layla stopped eating and drinking in the hope of dying instead of being raped as well. Eventually Layla got very ill, Layla was released.
Although Layla and the young survivor were able to find physical and mental health support through the safe space, they are not among the majority.
According to UNFPA, There have been more than 540 attacks on health facilities reported in the past two yearsSupplies and equipment are often looted, and health workers, patients and ambulances target violence and threats.
‘No longer secure ports’
Maha Mahmoud, a social worker at an UNFPA-supported safe space in Dongola in the northern state, said health facilities are no longer safe ports.
“I was informed that a young woman had been raped at a maternity hospital“She told UNFPA.” She is 18, divorced with a daughter and had lived with her family when opposition forces entered her area. They took her with many other women and raped them. “
“She lost consciousness. When she woke up, she was surrounded by other girls, all of whom had also been raped. They were then left on the street.”
The woman would later discover that she was pregnant. “She went to the safe space where we gave her psychological support and all the necessary medical treatment,” said Ms. Mahmoud and added that the woman and her baby are slowly recovering. “Since then, we have continued to help her tackle the trauma.”
Listen to an interview with UNFPA’s representative advertisement in the country, Argentina Matavel Piccin:
Urgent appeal
UNFPA calls for $ 119.6 million for its work in Sudan and another $ 26 million to help refugees in the country. In the northern state, UNFPA’s sexual and reproductive health programs and secure spaces with funding from Canada, the European Union, Japan, Norway and Sweden.
Yet, unprecedented financing of many leading donors is at risk of health and life for hundreds of thousands of women and girls.
The United States has been an important supporter of the people of Sudan, but the recent cuts in the financing will leave approx. 250,000 women without reproductive healthcare.
Education for frontline medical workers has also stopped and 10,000 women will lose access to safe spaces that provide medical, legal and psychosocial support.
* The name changed for privacy and protection.
