The ongoing civil war in Sudan has led to a horrifying increase in sexual violence against children, with reports from UNICEF revealing that infants as young as one year old have been subjected to rape and sexual assault.
The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war has been widely documented, but the latest findings provide a distressing insight into the scale and impact of these atrocities on young children. Survivors of these brutal attacks, including boys and girls, are left deeply traumatized, with some even attempting to end their own lives.
The Scale of Sexual Violence in Sudan’s Civil War
According to UNICEF, 221 cases of rape against children have been officially reported since the beginning of 2024, but the actual numbers are believed to be much higher. The conservative social structure of Sudan makes it extremely difficult for victims and their families to report such crimes due to the fear of social stigma and retaliation from armed groups.
A third of the victims were boys, who face additional challenges in speaking out and accessing support. The revelation that at least 16 of the victims were under the age of five, including four infants, highlights the depths of brutality in the conflict.
These atrocities are not isolated incidents but rather a systematic pattern of violence. Reports from the United Nations and international human rights organizations suggest that the majority of rapes have been committed by members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have been accused of using sexual violence as a means to terrorize civilians and suppress opposition.
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Although the RSF has denied these allegations, extensive documentation points to their involvement. Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, has called for immediate global action, stating that the use of rape as a war tactic is an abhorrent violation of international law and could constitute war crimes.
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However, despite international condemnation, the situation on the ground remains dire, with millions of children at risk of sexual violence in the conflict-torn country.
Survivors’ Harrowing Testimonies and the Psychological Toll
The accounts from survivors provide an appalling picture of the suffering endured by these children. Omnia, an adult female survivor who was held captive alongside young girls, described the horrors she witnessed.
“After nine at night, someone opens the door, carrying a whip, selects one of the girls, and takes her to another room. I could hear the little girl crying and screaming. They were raping her,” she recalled.
She went on to describe how the girls were returned covered in blood, barely conscious, and deeply traumatized. “Each of them cries and speaks incoherently. During the 19 days I spent there, I reached a point where I wanted to end my life.”
The widespread sexual violence has resulted in severe physical and psychological trauma for the victims. Many survivors suffer from serious injuries, unwanted pregnancies, and extreme mental distress. The lack of medical facilities further exacerbates their suffering, leaving them without the necessary medical care and psychological support to recover.
Additionally, the displacement caused by the war has left women and children more vulnerable to attacks. With three out of four school-age girls out of school, the absence of safe spaces has heightened their exposure to sexual violence. The constant threat of rape and assault has left many families living in a state of perpetual fear, forcing them to take desperate measures to protect their daughters.
The Impact of International Aid Cuts and the Need for Urgent Action
One of the most devastating aspects of this crisis is the lack of support for survivors. The destruction and occupation of medical facilities by warring factions have left victims with nowhere to seek help. In addition, recent cuts in U.S. aid have further crippled efforts to provide support to those affected by sexual violence.
UNICEF and local activists had been providing safe spaces and emergency response rooms for children through grassroots initiatives. However, these programs were heavily reliant on international funding, particularly from the United States.
With funding cuts forcing many of these safe spaces to shut down, the victims of sexual violence are left with no avenues for medical or psychological care.
Local organizations, particularly those led by women, have been at the forefront of providing support to survivors. However, they receive less than 2% of the total funding from the UN’s Sudan Humanitarian Fund.
One such organization, “She Leads,” was forced to close due to the loss of U.S. funding. The initiative, which required only tens of thousands of dollars to operate, had been instrumental in reaching approximately 35 survivors a month.
Sulaima Elkhalifa, a Sudanese human rights defender, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the survivors do not have the luxury of addressing their trauma because they are struggling for survival. The ongoing war has left them focused on finding food and safe shelter rather than seeking help for their psychological wounds.
The international community has a moral obligation to act. The reports from UNICEF and human rights organizations highlight a genocide-like campaign of sexual violence, particularly in Darfur, where black African communities have been disproportionately targeted. These crimes amount to ethnic cleansing, with rape being used as a tool to drive communities out of their homes and erase their presence in Sudan.
Efforts to document these crimes and hold perpetrators accountable are critical. The UN’s fact-finding mission has called for immediate intervention, emphasizing that the scale of sexual violence in Sudan is “staggering.” However, without concrete actions, justice remains elusive for the victims.
The Sudanese civil war has created one of the most challenging humanitarian crises in the world today. Millions of children are living in constant fear, vulnerable to sexual violence, hunger, and displacement.
The lack of medical facilities, coupled with the underfunding of humanitarian aid, has exacerbated their suffering. While the world watches in horror, real action is needed to stop these atrocities and provide justice to the victims.
Governments, international organizations, and civil society must unite to demand accountability from the warring factions, particularly the RSF.
Emergency funding must be reinstated to support survivors, and safe spaces for children must be re-established. Additionally, there must be a renewed effort to document these crimes, prosecute perpetrators, and deliver justice to those who have suffered.
The atrocities committed in Sudan are not just statistics—they are the lived realities of thousands of innocent children whose futures have been stolen by war. The global community must not turn a blind eye to their suffering. Immediate intervention is needed to protect the most vulnerable and ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable.
As the world grapples with numerous conflicts, Sudan’s crisis must not be ignored. The sexual violence against children in this war is a crime against humanity, and it demands urgent and unwavering action from the international community.
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