Sudan: UN Reports 76% of Women Feel Unsafe Amid Ongoing War

A staggering 76% of women aged 25 to 49 in Sudan feel unsafe in displacement camps, markets, water points, and streets, according to a recent assessment by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The findings, based on 95 focus group discussions involving around 1,000 women and girls across 16 of Sudan’s 18 states, underscore a profound gender-based safety crisis amid the country’s ongoing conflict. Fabrizia Falcione, UNFPA Country Representative in Sudan, briefed journalists in New York from Khartoum, detailing the pervasive insecurity felt by women, particularly at night when accessing latrines in camps with no lighting UN News.

Sudan’s war, now in its fourth year, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with no resolution in sight. The conflict has displaced millions, many of whom are women and children residing in overcrowded camps. Ms. Falcione, who has visited displacement sites in northern states, Khartoum, White Nile, and Blue Nile, noted that the majority of women she met have endured shelling and active conflict for months. Many have been displaced multiple times and have either experienced or witnessed severe violence against their families and communities. The journey to supposed safety is itself fraught with danger, as women face harassment, sexual violence, and physical attacks along roads and in displacement areas UN News.

The lack of safety extends beyond physical violence. Women, including pregnant ones, must navigate dark camps at night to reach latrines, heightening their vulnerability. Reporting gender-based violence is also a significant challenge due to stigma, fear of retaliation, financial barriers, and the distance to service providers. This compounds the trauma for those already grappling with loss and displacement in a conflict that shows no signs of abating UN News.

When asked about their most pressing needs, 75% of the women surveyed prioritised economic empowerment and livelihood opportunities. Ms. Falcione emphasised that Sudanese women do not want handouts; they seek income-generating activities to support their families. Additionally, they called for basic services, access to health care, and education for their children, alongside a safe return to their homes. However, funding shortages pose a severe obstacle. The protection and health sectors in Sudan are currently funded at just 14% and 11%, respectively, raising concerns about whether the international community can meet these urgent needs UN News.

The UN’s findings paint a grim picture of life for women in Sudan, where the intersection of war, displacement, and gender-specific risks creates a daily struggle for survival. Ms. Falcione described the situation as both a protection crisis and a health crisis, disproportionately affecting women and girls. Without increased financial support and a concerted effort to address safety concerns, the plight of Sudan’s women risks deepening further as the conflict persists UN News.

Why this is uncovered

Mainstream media coverage of Sudan’s conflict often centres on broader issues like displacement numbers and food insecurity, overlooking the specific gender-based safety crisis detailed in the UN’s primary data. Despite the clear public interest in understanding how war uniquely impacts women—evidenced by the scale of the UNFPA assessment across 16 states—this critical dimension remains absent from dominant narratives, potentially due to a focus on more generalised humanitarian metrics.