Almost two years have passed since the brutal war broke out between the military government forces in Jardum and the rapid support forces that the militia exploded, which caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
Human rights abuses have been committed on both sides and more than 30.4 million Sudanese require urgent assistance, with millions displaced and tens of thousands of dead. Almost 25 million people face acute hunger.
According to the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, there have been increasing and alarming reports of sexual violence that are used to terrorize civilians.
Layla's story
At the end of 2024, in the northern state of Sudan, armed men made their way at the house of Layla* in Jartum, the capital of Sudan, while it was alone with their children. “They arrested my son and took me to a separate car. I noticed that they were looking at my daughter in a disturbing way: he is 18 years old. They probably took me to keep it alone. “He told Unfpa.
Layla's fears for her daughter were a precursor to what she would later face in a crowded prison, where she was held for almost three weeks.
A woman, who has fled conflict in Sudan, washes clothes.
'Unimaginable horrors'
When they brought their son back and began to hit him in front of her, Layla added that she was questioned, accused her of being a spy and said that her husband was working for the army.
Although the Sudanese army has recently resumed strategic areas of Jardum, at that time the paramilitary forces of the opposition had control. Layla described being examined, beaten and detained without charge.
“I witnessed unimaginable horrors,” he said. “When the officers left, the soldiers would begin to violate the prisoners. They would arrive at young women to the patio, and all night we listen to the shouts of girls and women.. “
It is estimated that more than 12 million women and girls, and more and more men and boys, run the risk of assault, an increase of 80 percent compared to the previous year.
A growing health crisis
From the outbreak of the war in April 2023, the situation has worsened dramatically, with almost 13 million people displaced by force, almost a third of the population, and the almost erased health system.
Through Sudan, UNFPA provides health and reproductive protection services through 90 mobile health equipment, more than 120 health facilities and 51 safe spaces For survivors of sexual violence.
This assistance includes clinical treatment and psychological advice after violation, sexual abuse and aggression, as well as the references of legal assistance and awareness among the communities of the risks of sexual violence, coercion and traffic.
In a safe space backed by UNFPA, Layla explained how he fought for enduring the terrible experience in prison. “One day, a 16 -year -old girl returned to the cell, bleeding strongly,” he recalled. “She came to me, hugged me and we cried together for a whole day.”
UNFPA is providing health and reproductive protection services in dozens of locations in Sudan.
After nine days in prison, Layla stopped eating and drinking, hoping to die instead of being raped too. Finally, he became very ill, Layla was released.
Although Layla and the surviving young man were able to find physical and mental health support through safe space, they are not among the majority.
According to UNFPA, More than 540 attacks against health centers have been reported in the last two years.Supplies and team are frequently looted, and health workers, patients and ambulances are aimed at violence and intimidation.
'There are no safe reinforcements'
Maha Mahmoud, a social worker in a safe space backed by UNFPA in Dongola in the northern state, said that health facilities are no longer safe shelters.
“They informed me that a young woman had been raped in a maternity hospital.“He told Unfpa.” He is 18 years old, divorced a daughter and had been living with her family when the opposition forces entered her area. They took it, along with many other women, and raped them. ”
“He lost knowledge. When he woke up, he found himself surrounded by other girls, all of whom had also been raped. They were then left on the street.”
The woman would then discover that she was pregnant. “He went to the safe space, where we gave him psychological support and all the necessary medical attention,” Mrs. Mahmoud said, adding that the woman and her baby are slowly recovering. “Since then, we have continued helping her to deal with trauma.”
Listen to an interview with the representative of UNFPA interim in the country, Argentina Matavel Piccin:
Urgent appeal
UNFPA asks for $ 119.6 million for their work in Sudan and another $ 26 million to help refugees in the country.. In the northern state, the sexual and reproductive health programs of the UNFPA and safe spaces operate with funds from Canada, the European Union, Japan, Norway and Sweden.
However, the unprecedented fund cuts of many main donors are endangering the health and life of hundreds of thousands of women and girls.
The United States has been a crucial defender of the people of Sudan, but the recent fund cuts will leave about 250,000 women without reproductive health services.
Training for first -line medical workers has also stopped, and 10,000 women will lose access to safe spaces that provide medical, legal and psychosocial support.
* Name changed for privacy and protection.
