Women in Sudan Face Dire Choices Amid Ongoing Conflict
Humanitarian Crisis in Al-Obeid
In the besieged city of al-Obeid, Sudan, women and girls are confronted with a harrowing dilemma: they must risk drone strikes during daylight or face the threat of sexual violence at night while collecting water, as reported by UN Women. This alarming situation arises as Sudan's civil war approaches its fourth year, leading to one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally. Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, has endured siege-like conditions for nearly 18 months due to ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
UN Women highlighted that continuous drone attacks near water sources have compelled many women and girls to venture out after dark, making them vulnerable to harassment, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. "These women and girls have faced harassment, rape, and various forms of sexual violence while attempting to secure water, a basic necessity of life," the report stated.
Additionally, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk previously warned of a "human rights catastrophe" unfolding in al-Obeid, pointing to the unrelenting drone strikes, severe shortages of clean water, and limited access to food and healthcare. He cautioned that the city could experience atrocities akin to those reported in al-Fashir, North Darfur, last year.
UN Women estimates that approximately 12.7 million women and girls in Sudan will need support services for gender-based violence this year, a figure that has quadrupled since the conflict began. The report indicates that al-Obeid is home to around 500,000 residents, with nearly 70% being women and children.
Moreover, the crisis has been exacerbated by cuts in funding for humanitarian organizations. UN Women noted that two-thirds of the women's organizations surveyed in Sudan reported that safe spaces and services for survivors of gender-based violence have either closed or been significantly diminished, leaving countless women and girls without essential support.