The ongoing civil war in Sudan, now approaching its third year, has escalated into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian catastrophes, with women and girls bearing a disproportionate burden of suffering. Reports from the United Nations and human rights organizations describe sexual violence being systematically used as a weapon of war, particularly in conflict zones like Darfur, amid widespread displacement, famine risks, and collapsing aid systems.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”), has displaced over 10 million people internally and forced more than 2 million to flee as refugees to neighboring countries. As Sudan marked 1,000 days of war in early January 2026, NGOs and UN agencies warned that the crisis has deepened dramatically due to intense fighting, restricted humanitarian access, and sharply reduced international funding.
Women are repeatedly identified as the primary victims of the war’s atrocities. UN officials, including High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk during his January 2026 visit to Sudan, have stated that sexual violence ,including rape, gang rape, and other forms of gender-based abuse, is being employed deliberately as a tool of terror and control. A December 2025 UN Human Rights Office report detailed horrific patterns of violations during RSF operations in North Darfur, including widespread killings, rape, and other sexual violence committed with apparent impunity. The report highlighted how these acts target civilian populations, often in organized campaigns that spread “town by town.”
Survivors from areas like El Fasher (North Darfur) have recounted harrowing experiences of fleeing under bombardment while facing extortion, rape, and violence on escape routes. Amnesty International testimonies from late 2025 described RSF fighters committing deliberate killings and systematic sexual violence against women and girls. Rights groups, including those accusing the RSF of the vast majority of such attacks, note that the scale has turned Sudan into what some describe as facing “the world’s worst” levels of conflict related sexual violence. Women searching for food, water, or safety are particularly vulnerable, with attacks compounding risks of hunger and disease.
The UN and partners have launched urgent appeals to address these full scale emergencies. In December 2025, the Global Humanitarian Overview 2026 was released, seeking $33 billion overall, with $2.9 billion specifically prioritized for Sudan to reach 20 million people in need, the world’s largest displacement crisis. UNICEF’s 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal requests $962.9 million to assist 13.8 million people, including millions of children facing protection threats. UNFPA and other agencies emphasize the need for specialized services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, amid warnings that funding shortfalls are forcing “brutal choices” in aid delivery.
Despite these calls, donor fatigue has led to Sudan’s funding levels hitting historic lows in recent years, exacerbating the crisis. UN officials stress that without immediate scaled up support, the atrocities, including the use of rape as a weapon will continue unchecked, further devastating communities already reeling from starvation, disease outbreaks, and infrastructure collapse.
The international community, including the ICC prosecutor who briefed the UN Security Council in January 2026 on atrocities in Darfur involving mass executions and sexual violence as a weapon of war, continues to demand accountability and protection for civilians. Yet, as fighting intensifies in regions like South Kordofan, the prospects for peace remain distant, leaving millions,especially women and girls in peril.
This situation underscores a dire need for sustained global attention, increased funding, and concrete steps to end impunity for these grave violations.