The ongoing crisis in Sudan has exposed more than 12 million people to widespread sexual violence, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). As the war nears its two-year mark, the toll on women, girls, and increasingly men and boys has intensified, with sexual violence being used as a weapon to terrorize the population.
Increasing Cases of Sexual Violence and Rape
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell reported to the UN Security Council on Thursday that the number of individuals at risk of sexual assault has surged by 80 percent over the past year. UNICEF data reveals that 221 cases of child rape were reported in 2024 alone, spanning nine states, with disturbing instances of infants being assaulted. Sixteen of these cases involved children under the age of five, and four involved babies under one year old.
Russell emphasized that these figures only represent a fraction of the actual numbers, noting that many survivors are unable or unwilling to report the abuse due to social stigma, fear of retribution, and limited access to support services.
The Growing Humanitarian Crisis
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023, has caused widespread devastation, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing over 12 million people. With 16 million children requiring humanitarian assistance this year, the country is experiencing the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis.
Between June and December 2024, UNICEF reported over 900 cases of “grave violations” against children, including killings, maiming, and abductions. Khartoum, Al Jazirah, and Darfur have been the worst-hit regions. The situation has escalated, particularly in the North Darfur state capital of el-Fasher, where the RSF’s offensive has intensified in recent months. On Wednesday, the SAF accused the RSF of killing five children under the age of six and injuring four women in el-Fasher.
MSF Condemns Inaction and Criticizes the UN Security Council
Christopher Lockyear, Secretary-General of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), sharply criticized the lack of action from both warring sides and the international community. He accused the Sudanese factions of actively exacerbating civilian suffering, calling the war “a war on people.”
Lockyear also condemned the UN Security Council’s repeated calls for ceasefires as “hollow” and criticized its inability to turn these demands into tangible action. “Civilians remain unseen, unprotected, bombed, besieged, raped, displaced, deprived of food, medical care, and dignity,” he added. MSF has suspended operations in the famine-stricken Zamzam refugee camp near el-Fasher due to the ongoing violence.
Sudanese Government’s Response
In response to the criticism, Sudan’s UN Ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, stated that the Sudanese government has implemented a national plan for the protection of civilians. He also claimed that Lockyear did not raise any concerns with him during a previous private meeting.
Despite these assurances, the international community remains deeply concerned about the lack of effective protection for civilians on the ground. Diplomats at the UN Security Council frequently refer to the Jeddah Declaration, an agreement signed in 2023 under the mediation of the United States and Saudi Arabia, as a potential pathway for protecting civilians. However, Lockyear and other experts have called for a new, more comprehensive approach to addressing the crisis in Sudan.
The Path Forward
The international community’s response to the crisis remains under intense scrutiny as Sudan continues to endure one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history. With sexual violence at an all-time high and the war causing widespread devastation, the need for immediate action is more pressing than ever.
As the situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, humanitarian organizations and diplomats alike are calling for a more robust international response to protect vulnerable populations, especially women and children, from the ongoing violence.
