Medical Professionals Offering Disturbing Accounts from Sudan
Sudan: Widespread Sexual Violence Cases Reported Amidst Ongoing Civil War
Women and girls in Sudan are facing an "almost constant" risk of sexual violence, according to humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF). In the conflict-ridden country, sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war, particularly in the Darfur region.
MSF emergency coordinator, Claire San Filippo, shared the harrowing accounts of women targeted by sexual assaults in their homes, while fleeing violence, collecting firewood, and working in fields. The extent of the violence is so widespread that many view it as inevitable in the Darfur region, San Filippo added.
The civil war in Sudan, between government troops led by Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF militia, has caused 12.4 million people to be displaced within the country or seek refuge in neighboring countries since April 2023.
Human rights organizations and the United Nations have previously accused the RSF militia of carrying out massive sexual assaults, but the majority of victims remain silent due to the social stigma associated with rape in conservative Sudanese society.
MSF reported treating 659 survivors of sexual violence in South Darfur alone between January 2024 and March 2025. A significant majority of survivors (86%) reported rape, and 94% were women and girls. The organization described the scale of suffering as "beyond comprehension."
A 17-year-old girl, raped by seven RSF fighters during her escape from the fighting, shared her harrowing experience, saying she was beaten and then raped in the street in front of witnesses. A 25-year-old woman shared that her 13-year-old niece had succumbed to the consequences of a gang rape.
Eyewitnesses reported that there were hardly any days without rapes when women from refugee camps ventured out to attend markets. Farmers could only venture out to their fields in groups with other women, but even this provided limited protection.
Source: ntv.de, toh/dpa
- Sudan
- Civil Wars
- Doctors Without Borders
- Sexual Abuse
- The Commission, in the midst of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in response to the increasing use of scientific advancements in warfare.
- Amidst the health-and-wellness concerns regarding the widespread sexual violence cases reported in Sudan, it's important to address the mental-health and women's health implications for the survivors, many of whom are women and girls.
- As the civil war in Sudan continues, general-news sources have been covering the violence extensively, including the role of politics and war-and-conflicts in the escalation of sexual abuse.
- Due to the ongoing violence, crime-and-justice organizations are increasingly concerned with the underreported incidences of rape in Sudan, given the social stigma associated with sexual assault in conservative Sudanese society.
- The harrowing accounts of sexual violence in Sudan underscore the urgent need for global attention and action, not just in terms of physical safety, but also addressing the long-term health effects, including the stigma and social isolation experienced by survivors.
