In the midst of the devastating conflict in Sudan, women are reportedly being coerced into sexual acts with soldiers in exchange for food, according to a recent report by The Guardian. The report details harrowing accounts from over two dozen women who fled the city of Omdurman, revealing that sexual exploitation has become a grim means of securing nourishment or goods for their families.
One survivor recounted her experience to The Guardian, explaining that the assaults occurred in factories where food was stored. “My parents are elderly and unwell, and I couldn’t let my daughter search for food,” she said. “I had no choice but to approach the soldiers; they were everywhere in the factory areas.” The woman, who was forced into sex with soldiers at a meat-processing factory in May of the previous year, highlighted the desperate circumstances faced by many.
The sexual violence reportedly began shortly after the onset of civil war in Sudan, which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Within days of the conflict’s commencement, reports emerged of widespread sexual assault by armed men.
The ongoing war in Sudan has claimed tens of thousands of lives, with some estimates suggesting a death toll as high as 150,000. The conflict has also precipitated a catastrophic displacement crisis, uprooting over 11 million people and pushing the country toward the brink of famine.
The report reveals a disturbing pattern of systematic abuse by RSF fighters, who have sexually exploited women in areas under their control. Victims have reported being coerced into sex in exchange for access to abandoned homes, where they could loot items for sale in local markets.
One woman described her ordeal, saying she was allowed to retrieve food, kitchen supplies, and perfumes from empty homes only after engaging in sexual acts with soldiers. “What I went through is indescribable; I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I did it solely to provide for my children,” she stated.
Residents of Omdurman have witnessed the chilling reality of this exploitation. They described soldiers bringing women to deserted houses, forcing them to line up and selecting those they found appealing. “Many women queue outside our neighborhood. I sometimes hear screaming, but there is nothing we can do,” said one resident.
Another survivor shared a particularly brutal experience, revealing that after she refused to comply with a soldier’s demands, she was tortured and had her legs burned. The 21-year-old, who had previously engaged in sexual acts for access to loot, recounted the horrific punishment she endured.
A soldier, who claimed he had never personally assaulted a woman but had witnessed such acts, condemned the violence. “It’s horrifying. The extent of the sins in this city will never be forgiven,” he lamented.
The report sheds light on the severe impact of the conflict on women and underscores the urgent need for international intervention to address and prevent such atrocities.
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