Geneva: In the war-stricken region of Sudan, women are enduring extreme hardships as they face starvation, sexual violence, and relentless bombings while escaping from El Fasher. The UN's gender equality agency has raised alarms about the dire situation, warning that rape is likely being used as a weapon of war, with simply being a woman serving as a "strong predictor" of hunger, violence, and death.
According to United Nations, during a press briefing in Geneva, Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, highlighted the severe conditions faced by women in El Fasher, the epicenter of Sudan's latest catastrophe. "Women speaking to us from El Fasher have endured starvation, displacement, rape, and bombardment," Mutavati stated. She added that pregnant women have been forced to give birth on the streets due to the destruction and looting of the last remaining maternity hospitals.
The capture of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia after more than 500 days of siege has been marked by widespread atrocities, including summary executions and sexual violence. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary RSF, followed the collapse of a transition to civilian rule after the ouster of long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir. The ongoing fighting has devastated communities, displaced millions, and worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Ms. Mutavati expressed concern over the worsening situation as fighting intensifies around the city, causing mass displacement. Thousands of women and girls have fled to other localities in North Darfur, including Tawila, Korma, and Malit, where humanitarian assistance is scarcely available. On Monday, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that nearly 89,000 individuals have fled the area, with some seeking refuge near the Sudan-Chad border.
The UN Women representative emphasized the high risk of sexual violence faced by women during their harrowing journeys. "Every step they've taken to fetch water, collect firewood, or stand in a food line has carried a high risk of sexual violence," Mutavati said, citing mounting evidence of rape being systematically used as a weapon of war.
Ms. Mutavati further warned that women's bodies have essentially become crime scenes in Sudan, with no safe spaces left for protection or access to basic psychosocial care. She highlighted the collapse of basic dignity, noting that a single packet of sanitary towels costs around $27, while humanitarian cash assistance averages slightly below $150 per month for a family of six.
The dire situation has forced families into making "impossible decisions" between food, medicine, and dignity, with the essential needs of women and girls falling to the bottom of the list. Women and girls in Sudan often eat the least and last, with many not eating at all. In besieged areas like Darfur or Kordofan, women and girls are scavenging for survival, foraging for wild leaves and berries to make soup, while facing additional risks of violence.
The latest UN-backed IPC food security analysis in early November confirmed famine conditions in El Fasher and Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state. Health workers report rising cases of severe acute malnutrition in infants, often linked to their starving mothers' reduced ability to breastfeed. Mutavati stressed the ripple effect of the hunger experienced by women, calling for an end to the violence, broader humanitarian access, and increased support for women-led aid initiatives.
The UN's top humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, arrived in Sudan on Monday to advocate for an end to atrocities and to secure unhindered access for aid workers. The humanitarian situation in North Darfur remains precarious, with civilians facing sporadic attacks, looting, and gender-based violence despite a reduction in major clashes.
In South Kordofan, a reported drone strike destroyed a school and injured several displaced people in the town of Um Barmbeeta, while ongoing insecurity continues to obstruct aid access to isolated areas. Over 12,000 individuals have fled violence in Darfur and Kordofan, seeking safety in White Nile State since late October, further straining limited resources. The UN reiterates its call for the protection of civilians and safe, sustained access for aid workers across conflict lines.