Senior United Nations officials today voiced shock and condemnation at increasing reports of gender-based violence (GBV) in Sudan – including conflict-related sexual violence against internally displaced and refugee women and girls – since clashes erupted in the country in mid-April. Fighting in Sudan has now entered its 12th week, with no end in sight after multiple failed ceasefire attempts.
In a joint statement, the heads of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and the World Health Organization (WHO) called today for an immediate end to gender-based violence, including sexual violence as a tactic of war to terrorize people.
“It is unconscionable that Sudan’s women and children – whose lives have been upended by this senseless conflict – are being further traumatized in this way. What we are witnessing in Sudan is not just a humanitarian crisis; it is a crisis of humanity”, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said.
The UN leaders also called for prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigations into all alleged gross violations and abuses of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law; and for perpetrators to be held accountable.
“We are receiving shocking reports of sexual violence against women and girls, including rape. And in the aftermath of such cruelty and brutality, the women and girls are left with little or no medical and psychosocial support. There must be zero tolerance for sexual violence. All perpetrators must be held accountable”, said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Even before fighting broke out on 15 April, more than 3 million women and girls in Sudan were at risk of gender-based violence, including intimate-partner violence, according to UN estimates. This number has since climbed to an estimated 4.2 million people.
Since this conflict began, the UN Human Rights Office in Sudan has received credible reports of 21 incidents of conflict-related sexual violence against at least 57 women and girls. The victims include at least 10 girls. In one case, as many as 20 women were reportedly raped in the same attack.
Sudan’s Ministry of Social Development also continues to receive reports of conflict-related sexual violence. It has documented at least 42 alleged cases in the capital, Khartoum, and 46 in the Darfur region.
Given the significant underreporting of gender-based violence, the real number of cases is feared far higher. Many survivors find it challenging to report sexual violence due to shame, stigma and fear of reprisal. Reporting violations and getting support is also made difficult, if not impossible, by the lack of electricity and connectivity, as well as lack of humanitarian access due to the volatile security situation.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) – also Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) - is a form of violence that is directed against individuals on the basis of their gender or perceived gender. GBV can include a wide range of acts, such as physical, sexual, or psychological violence.
Gender-Based Violence is often perpetrated against girls and women, but can also affect boys and men, as well as those who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming. GBV is particularly acute during humanitarian crises, such conflicts, and displacement, where people are at increased risk of experiencing violence and exploitation.
The UN leaders also stressed the need to swiftly scale up GBV prevention and response services in Sudan, as well as in neighboring countries, where those fleeing violence have sought safety as refugees, to meet the soaring needs.
“Our teams in the region describe horrific ordeals being faced by forcibly displaced women and girls when fleeing Sudan. This shocking array of human rights violations must stop. Help to support survivors and those at risk is urgent, but so far, funding is falling extremely short”, stressed Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The officials stressed that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law to protect civilians, including women and girls, including allowing safe passage for survivors to access health care and for health workers to reach health facilities.
Attacks on and occupation of health facilities also prevent survivors from seeking and accessing emergency health care. WHO has verified 50 attacks on health care since the beginning of the conflict, including 32 incidents affecting health facilities, and 10 deaths and 21 injuries reported among health workers and patients.
“The ongoing violence, including attacks on health, are preventing survivors of gender-based violence from accessing essential health services at a time when they need them most. Women and girls need to be protected from sexual violence, and survivors must have unhindered access to the care they need. Health workers and facilities must be protected”, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, said.
Yet health-care providers, social workers, counselors and community-based protection networks inside Sudan have all warned of a marked increase in reports of gender-based violence as hostilities continue across the country.
Women, including refugees living in Sudan prior to the conflict, have reported incidents of gender-based violence when fleeing Khartoum to other areas. Women fleeing across Sudan’s borders have told UNHCR and UN Human Rights teams in neighboring countries of the horrific violence they faced.
The risk of sexual violence is especially high when women and girls are on the move, seeking safer locations. The officials said there is an urgent need to ramp up assistance at reception sites for internally displaced people in Sudan’s conflict-affected areas, as well as in neighboring countries.
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has continued for over two months in Sudan, with ongoing violence reported in Khartoum, Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile.
Since April 15, more than 2.8 million people have been forced to flee, including 2.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and more than 600,000 refugees, asylum seekers and returnees who have crossed the border into neighboring countries. The major hosting countries include the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
As of 30 June, 1,133 deaths and 11,796 injuries have been reported across the country by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Humanitarian needs in Sudan were already at record levels before the situation deteriorated. The number of people in need of humanitarian aid stands now at 24.7 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population. Among them are 13 million children in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian support.
The armed conflict in Sudan is further exacerbating an already challenging hunger situation. The conflict has dramatically increased the number of people at highest risk of hunger – from 11.7 million to 19.1 million people.
Many people have been left stranded and cut off from basic humanitarian assistance in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan states due to the conflict, according to UNHCR. Worrying reports of displaced civilians including refugees experiencing life-threatening challenges while attempting to seek safety within the country and across borders have been received.
The UN Refugee Agency says, due to the intensity of the conflict, vulnerable people have been left with little choice than to flee in extremely dangerous and difficult conditions, risking physical abuse, theft and banditry, and in some cases, denied movement out of conflict areas and forced back into harm’s way.
Insecurity and bureaucratic access impediments, attacks against humanitarian premises and warehouses continue to hamper the ability of humanitarian organizations to safely deliver aid. Humanitarians are facing tremendous difficulties to reach people in need in conflict affected areas in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan, where the situation is extremely concerning.
According to OCHA, at least 15 aid workers have been killed since the start of the conflict, many more injured and some remain still unaccounted for.
Despite this challenging operating environment, humanitarian organizations have provided assistance and protection to over 2.8 million people across the country from 15 April to 15 June, according to OCHA. This includes people affected by the recent conflict, as well as those who were previously in need. It also includes 1.3 million people who received safe drinking water.
Further information
Full text: Sudan: Top UN officials sound alarm at spike in violence against women and girls, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, joint press release, OCHA, OHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women and WHO, published July 5, 2023
https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-top-un-officials-sound-alarm-spike-violence-against-women-and-girls-enar
Full text: Sudan: Humanitarian Update, 4 July 2023, report, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, published Jul 4, 2023
https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-humanitarian-update-4-july-2023-enar