The ravages of war have taken a grim toll on the innocent souls caught in the crossfire of Sudan’s military factions. A surge in cases of rape and abduction has left aid agencies and officials appalled, highlighting the disturbing reality that teenage girls, some as young as 12, are being subjected to unspeakable sexual assault by armed combatants. Save the Children, in a statement released on Friday, expressed grave concern about the “alarming numbers” of these heinous acts, while the United Nations reported a “marked increase” in gender-based violence.
The conflict, which began on April 15, involves Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In the midst of this chaos, an old African proverb rings true: “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” Regrettably, it is the innocent young girls and women of South Sudan who bear the brunt of this war, as uncultured men exploit the prevailing disorder to abuse them.
The fighting primarily takes place in the capital city of Khartoum and the western region of Darfur. As reported by Federal Character News, the intensification of the war in Sudan has caused widespread suffering, including the outbreak of diseases and illnesses resulting in numerous deaths.
While a mere fraction of the rape cases resulting from the conflict have been officially acknowledged, the Sudanese government’s Combating Violence against Women (CVAW) unit believes that the verified figures represent only 2% of the total. Save the Children’s Sudan director, Arif Noor, emphasizes that the situation is far graver than what official numbers suggest, with children as young as 12 being ruthlessly targeted due to their gender, ethnicity, and vulnerability.
The dire circumstances have pushed some parents to resort to marrying off their daughters at a tender age in a desperate attempt to shield them from further abuse. Disturbing reports have emerged of girls being subjected to days of captivity while enduring sexual assault, as well as incidents of gang rapes involving women and girls.
United Nations agencies, in a joint statement released this week, underscored the alarming rise in gender-based violence reported by healthcare providers, social workers, counsellors, and community-based protection networks within Sudan. Yet, reporting such violations and seeking support is an arduous task, if not an impossible one, given the lack of electricity, connectivity, and humanitarian access resulting from the volatile security situation.
The CVAW has also documented an alarming escalation in cases of women and girls being abducted, particularly in Khartoum, and has pointed fingers at the RSF fighters responsible for these abductions. While the RSF has yet to directly address the accusations of assault and sexual violence levelled against its fighters, they have vaguely promised to hold those responsible for abuses accountable.
According to the United Nations, a staggering 4.2 million people are now at risk of gender-based violence, a significant increase from the 3 million at risk before the conflict erupted in mid-April. With Sudan’s population standing at 49 million, the magnitude of this crisis becomes painfully apparent. The U.N. also underscores that the risk of violence is particularly heightened when women and girls are on the move, desperately seeking safe havens.
The human toll of Sudan’s conflict is staggering, with over 2.9 million people uprooted from their homes, including nearly 700,000 who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Tragically, some women arrive at these places pregnant as a result of rape, as reported by the U.N. refugee agency.
The grim reality of war has repeatedly revealed the vulnerability of women and children, who become defenseless, leaving them exposed to the whims of marauding soldiers driven by hatred, lust, and power. The female body, tragically, becomes a prize, a canvas on which unimaginable victimization and violent contestation are etched. Sexual violence, primarily rape, emerges as the most prevalent form of brutality inflicted upon young girls and women.
Looking back through history, one finds a haunting chronicle of unspeakable abuses suffered by women and children, from the Holocaust’s 1.1 million slain children to the countless women and children subjected to rape and murder during the Rwandan Genocide. Those fortunate enough to survive these atrocities are burdened with indelible memories of rape, war, and death, haunting them for the remainder of their lives. They also grapple with sexually transmitted diseases, stigmatization, and the burden of unwanted pregnancies. In the aftermath of displacement, they shoulder the daunting task of keeping families intact, providing sustenance, clothing, and shelter amidst the ruins of infrastructure.
Even when the war finally comes to an end, the torment experienced by these women will continue to plague them. Such is the enduring legacy of war—a scourge that exacts a heavy toll on countless lives. While peace may seem elusive and costly, it is a price worth paying, for the alternative—war—brings with it a litany of ruinous consequences that forever scar the lives of countless individuals.
