Two years of relentless conflict in Sudan have triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis for 6 million displaced women and girls
The number of people at risk of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, has tripled to over 12 million since the beginning of the war.
New York / Port Sudan – Sudanese women and girls are bearing the brunt of a crisis that is entering its third year on April 15. Facing acute food insecurity, alarming rates of gender-based violence, and limited access to healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities, they comprise most of the 12 million displaced people inside and outside the country.
Women in Eastern Sudan received farm inputs, training on value chain transformation, marketing, women’s rights, violence against women, and education. October 2024. Photo: UN Women / Muna Elsadaty.
In less than two years, the number of people at risk of gender-based violence has tripled to 12.1 million. Cases of conflict-related sexual violence remain hugely under-reported, but evidence points to its systematic use as a weapon of war. Amid the escalating conflict, women and girls are facing acute levels of food insecurity and a worsening hunger crisis in most impacted areas, given their limited access to food, essential goods, and services.
With 80 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas not functioning, maternal deaths have spiked, and women’s access to sexual and reproductive health care is hampered. 80 per cent of displaced women lack access to clean water due to affordability, safety concerns, and distance.
Despite these challenges, women have stepped up as key responders and peace champions, and are demanding 50 per cent of representation at negotiation tables, guided by the Kampala Feminist Declaration, a vital blueprint set by 49 women-led groups.
“Women in Sudan are enduring the gravest forms of violence—particularly sexual violence—while being systematically excluded from peace processes,” said Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “This exclusion persists despite compelling evidence of their transformative role in shaping Sudan’s political landscape. Their strength is extraordinary, but they cannot and should not be left to navigate this crisis alone. We urge all stakeholders—governments, donors, the international community—to act decisively: end the conflict, amplify women’s voices in peacebuilding, and deliver justice. Sudanese women deserve not merely survival, but the dignity to rebuild and thrive.”
Over the past two years, UN Women has partnered with more than 60 women-led organizations to reach over 15,000 women in some of Sudan’s most affected areas—providing household essentials, critical services and skills training. Through programmes supported by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), displaced women have accessed safe shelter, mental health care, and legal aid, while also gaining access to key spaces to have their voices heard in local and international arenas. Yet the needs are vast, and more funding is crucial to expand support.
UN Women urgently calls for peace restoration and an immediate end to all forms of gender-based violence and accountability for perpetrators. Local women’s organizations must receive sufficient resources to protect and empower their communities, and women’s voices must be front and center in every peace negotiation. By working together and placing women at the heart of recovery, Sudan can begin to heal and move toward a more just and stable future.
This press release is available in Arabic here.
