The conflict in Sudan has increased the risk of sexual violence for over 12 million individuals, according to UNICEF. The toll on children is profound, with rising numbers of reported abuses and dire humanitarian needs. Criticism of ineffective UN intervention calls for renewed action to protect civilians.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has rendered over 12 million individuals vulnerable to widespread sexual violence, which is being wielded as a weapon of terror, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). At a recent UN Security Council meeting, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell revealed that the risk of sexual violence, particularly rape, has surged by 80 percent in the past year, affecting an increasing number of men and boys in addition to women and girls.
Data analyzed by UNICEF indicates that in 2024 alone, there were 221 reported cases of child rape across nine states, including alarming instances involving children under five and infants. Russell emphasized that these figures merely scratch the surface of a significantly larger and more dire crisis, as many survivors refrain from reporting abuses due to barriers such as access to services, social stigma, or fear of retaliation.
The meeting primarily addressed the dire situation facing the 16 million children in need of humanitarian assistance amid the ongoing strife between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which escalated in April 2023. This conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities and displaced over 12 million individuals, creating an unprecedented humanitarian emergency.
Russell documented over 900 grievous violations against children noted between June and December 2024, with a staggering 80 percent of these victims either killed or injured, particularly in Khartoum, Al Jazirah, and Darfur states. The SAF recently accused the RSF of targeting civilians in el-Fasher, resulting in tragic casualties among children and women as violence increases.
Christopher Lockyear, secretary-general of Doctors Without Borders, criticized not only the lack of protections for civilians but also the warring factions’ role in exacerbating the suffering. He described the reality of the war as one that increasingly resembles a war on the people themselves. Furthermore, he condemned the UN Security Council’s calls for ceasefire as ineffective and empty, highlighting the urgency of the humanitarian crisis.
Amid the violence, MSF suspended its operations at the famine-affected Zamzam refugee camp, underlining the severe impact of the conflict. Sudan’s UN Ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, noted that the government has a national civilian protection plan, countering Lockyear’s criticisms. In the backdrop, the Jeddah Declaration, an agreement to safeguard civilians, remains a point of reference for international diplomats, yet Lockyear advocates for a new approach to address the pressing needs in Sudan.
In summary, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan has drastically escalated, with UNICEF reporting approximately 12 million individuals at risk of sexual violence amidst ongoing conflict. This situation has spurred concerns regarding the protection of civilians, especially children. Moreover, calls for effective ceasefire actions by the UN Security Council are increasingly regarded as ineffectual, prompting experts to call for a renewed commitment to protect the vulnerable populations in Sudan.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
