A United Nations Special Rapporteur has described the humanitarian situation in Sudan as “catastrophic and beyond imagination,” revealing the systematic use of sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war aimed at destroying the fabric of Sudanese society.
Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, shared harrowing accounts from survivors she met during a recent nine-day visit to displacement camps across four Sudanese states: الجزيرة (Al Jazirah), Khartoum, Red Sea, and Northern states. Her mission focused on assessing the situation of women and girls impacted by the ongoing conflict.
The Special Rapporteur emphasized that the systematic sexual violence is not isolated incidents but a deliberate tactic of war designed to dismantle Sudanese society. “These violations not only inflict immense suffering on the women who are the direct victims of rape, but also humiliate the men in their families who are forced to witness these atrocities, finding themselves powerless to protect their wives, daughters, and homes,” she stated.
Alsalem conveyed the fears of women from الفاشر (Al Fashir) and other regions who expressed reluctance to report their experiences to international organizations due to the social stigma that exacerbates their suffering.
Economic Violence
The UN official also highlighted the pervasive “economic violence” which is as devastating as the physical harm inflicted by the conflict. This includes the looting of homes, theft of crops and gold, and the destruction of infrastructure. She described these actions as a systematic effort to undermine the economic stability of the population, not merely isolated incidents.
Furthermore, she criticized the inadequate international funding for the humanitarian response in Sudan, noting that only 38% of the required funds have been secured while an estimated 30 million Sudanese – half of the population – are in urgent need of assistance. The lack of resources has led to widespread hunger, disease, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare for survivors of sexual violence, including the management of unwanted pregnancies.
Call to Action
In closing, the Special Rapporteur urged the international community to exert real pressure to immediately halt the fighting and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
