Source: UN News: Wednesday, 22 April 2026 00:02 AM
Women and girls continue to face danger and risks of gender-based violence during Sudan’s brutal three-year war. For them, all places are the same, whether they are fleeing violence and instability to safer places or ending up in displacement camps, everyone faces risks. The United Nations Reproductive and Sexual Health Agency in Sudan (UNFPA)’s country representative, Fabrizia Falcioni, briefed journalists in New York on a recent assessment based on discussions held in 16 out of 18 provinces. Speaking from Khartoum, Fabrizia Falcioni said nearly 1,000 women and girls took part in the discussions. Of these, 76 percent of women aged 25 to 49 reported feeling unsafe in and outside the displacement camps. They also complained of insecurity in markets, water points, firewood collection areas and roads. It is noteworthy that the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has now entered its fourth year and shows no signs of stopping. Fabrizia Falcioni said that she visited the northern provinces, where most of the women have lived for months amid shelling and fierce war. Entire families are becoming targets, many women have had to be displaced several times. All of them have either experienced horrific violence themselves or have seen their family and community members become victims of violence. Even the routes to safe places to escape violence are not safe. Women face harassment, sexual violence, physical violence and lack of food and water. She said that in the displacement camps where the number of women and children is highest, even pregnant women are forced to go to the toilet in the dark of night without any light. © UNFPA Additionally, it is extremely difficult for them to report violence, due to social stigma, fear of reprisals and economic constraints. Fabrizia Falcioni described the needs of women in Sudan: Economic empowerment: Three-quarters of women cited economic opportunities and livelihoods as their main priority. Desire for home: They want to return to their homes. Basic services: They want access to health services, schools for children, and sources of income “Sudan women do not just want food. They want opportunities and sources of income so that they can feed their families and children.” However, the main problem is the lack of money. Currently, the funding availability for security and health sectors is only 14% and 11%. It is being called a “security crisis”, but help is not being provided in proportion. UNFPA runs 88 safe spaces across Sudan where women and girls muster the courage to speak out and receive the assistance they need, but lack of funding is making it difficult to continue. She urged the international community not to abandon the people of Sudan.
