A recent Unicef report highlights an alarming increase in sexual violence against children, including infants, in Sudan amid the ongoing civil war. As armed groups target victims with impunity, societal stigma and reduced aid exacerbate the plight of survivors.**
Alarming Rise in Sexual Violence Against Children Amid Sudan's Civil War, UN Reports**
Alarming Rise in Sexual Violence Against Children Amid Sudan's Civil War, UN Reports**
The UN's Unicef reveals harrowing accounts of sexual violence, particularly against infants, during Sudan's ongoing conflict.**
In a chilling report, the UN children's agency, Unicef, has revealed that armed groups are perpetrating acts of sexual violence against children as young as one year during the ongoing civil war in Sudan. This report marks the first comprehensive look at the abhorrent effects of rape on the youngest victims amid the nearly two-year-long conflict.
The documented cases indicate a staggering amount of mass sexual violence being utilized as a means of warfare, with one-third of the reported victims being boys. The report presents a disturbing picture, revealing that 16 of the victims were under five years of age, including four infants. Unicef acknowledges that the number of reported cases, which stands at 221 since January 2024, is likely grossly underestimated due to societal stigma that prevents victims and their families from seeking help or speaking out.
Most of the rapes have reportedly been linked to the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), known for employing sexual violence to instill fear among civilians and eliminate opposition. Despite these allegations, the RSF denies any involvement in these heinous acts.
"The scale of sexual violence we are observing in Sudan is shocking," stated Mohamed Chande Othman, president of the UN's fact-finding mission on this issue. Reports from international human rights organizations suggest that victims within the RSF's stronghold in Darfur face targeted violence due to their ethnicity, as the attacks seem aimed at driving specific communities out of the region.
The humanitarian response to such crises is already hampered by underfunding, and with recent cuts to US aid, resources aimed at assisting victims are becoming scarcer. Unicef has been working to provide safe spaces for children through local networks, but many organizations supporting these initiatives have been forced to close due to aid decline.
Survivors of sexual violence face additional challenges due to the destruction of medical facilities and the ongoing demands of war, leaving many without needed medical care or mental health support. The urgent need for services has compounded with the rising vulnerability of women and children during this turbulent period, where three in four school-age girls are reported out of school.
Local organizations, particularly those spearheaded by women, play a crucial role in providing support to survivors; however, they receive a minimal fraction of the funds necessary to operate effectively. As aid continues to diminish, the situation for survivors remains dire. Affected individuals are often trapped in a cycle of trauma, unable to take the necessary time to heal due to the constant pressures of survival in a war-torn environment.
