Navigating war, birth, and hope in Sudan

Feature

13 November 2024

A mother and her one-year-old daughter with severe acute malnutrition receive treatment at the Hayal Arab health facility in Atbara, River Nile state, Sudan. Photo: UNICEF/UNI607280/Ahmed

Hundreds of Sudanese women and girls have been raped during the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which has been ongoing since April 2023.

In a September 2024 report, the Sudanese government's Unit of Combating Violence Against Women and Children (CVAW), documented 216 incidents of sexual violence in the first 18 months of the conflict, and estimated that those documented cases constituted a mere 2 per cent of the total incidents of sexual violence. The report concluded that sexual violence is being used as a weapon in Sudan, with the objectives of humiliation for ethnic or ideological reasons, forced eviction and displacement, and creating chaos and a sense of insecurity.

The lack of health care and psychosocial support adds to the burdens faced by survivors of sexual violence.

"When he was born, [my son] was sick for a long time and had some health complications," Salih said. "I didn't have enough breast milk to feed him, and now it has stopped entirely."

UN Women has worked with the Sudanese Organization for Research and Development (SORD), to provide Salih and many others with psychological and medical support, helping her to rebuild her life and care for her child.

Salih said that a social worker helped her secure healthcare and emotional support before the baby was born, and that a generous local family cared for her and her baby after birth. However, that family is facing economic hardship due to the war, making Salih's future all the more uncertain.

"I often think that the burden and responsibilities have become too much for them, because I don't have any source of income, especially since my baby needs external [powdered] milk, clothes, and health care," Salih said. "I feel annoyed that I am a burden on them, even though they never complain or make me feel that way."

Children conceived as a result of conflict-related sexual violence, including Salih's son, lack vital official documentation such as a full birth certificate identifying the child's father. Sudan's National Council for Childhood oversees social welfare programmes for children who need support, but the system lacks funding and consistent protocols-especially during wartime.

"Society is ruthless," Salih said. "You often hear hurtful words and nicknames used about those who do not know their fathers or mothers."

UN Women and SORD work to reach survivors at all levels, addressing both the direct impacts of conflict-related sexual violence and the structural and cultural faced by women and girls.

"Conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan is a significant issue, causing economic insecurity, social vulnerability, and limited access to essential services," said Safia Alamin, Programme Specialist for Gender-based Violence and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse at UN Women Sudan.

"The women, peace, and security resolutions of the UN Security Council emphasize the need for preventative and responsive measures to address this violence, including comprehensive support," she said. "Despite this, many survivors face challenges in accessing services due to resource constraints, sociocultural stigma, and lack of information."

UN Women is also working with local partners to develop a comprehensive framework that integrates legal, psychological, and economic resources to support women like Salih and expand the reach of essential services.

"I dream of completing my education to support my son in the future and to meet his needs and expenses," Salih said. But sometimes, she added, "the future is completely dark for me."

^{*Salih's name has been changed to protect her safety.}