Recently during the commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women, the world woke up to a shocking reality of the growing plight of women in rural parts of Sudan where the conflict is devastating their lives, livelihoods, and futures.
According to CARE, Sudan’s 18-month conflict has caused immense suffering, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced. Women and girls have borne the brunt of the conflict and remain particularly vulnerable to the violence and struggling to provide for their families amidst critical shortages of food, healthcare, and essential services.
“Women are the backbone of communities in rural Sudan, but they are being torn apart by this conflict, said Abdirahman Ali CARE Sudan Country Director. “They experience constant violence, displacement, and extreme poverty, and yet they persevere. On this International Day of Rural Women, we urge the international community to swiftly provide the resources needed to support these women. Their resilience deserves not only recognition but meaningful action.”
The conflict in Sudan has disproportionately affected women, who even before this crisis faced significant challenges due to poverty and social inequality. Sudan’s conflict has left its healthcare system on its knees, and women and girls can no longer access reproductive health services.
They lack medical attention to address sexual, and gender-based violence and many are forced to deliver children without medical attention risking their and their children’s lives. Displacement has exacerbated food insecurity, with women unable to properly feed their children, increasing malnutrition and disease infections.
The destruction of agricultural land, output and services, livestock, markets, and trade has stripped off the primary source of income for families – especially in rural areas. This has worsened women’s poverty and ability to meet their family’s basic needs. Moreover, gender- based violence, including sexual violence and human trafficking, remains widespread in these regions, causing long-lasting psychological and physical trauma.
Through its interventions, CARE Sudan is working to empower rural women economically and socially. However, the ongoing conflict is hindering progress and placing the lives of women and their families at risk. CARE Sudan remains committed to assisting women in rural areas by providing food baskets, hygiene supplies, and support for disease prevention. CARE is partnering with three Women Led Organizations (WLOs) in Sudan including Zenab for Women in Development, Almanar and Reira in Kordofan, East Sudan and Darfur. However, the scale of the crisis far exceeds available resources, and greater global attention is necessary to address the immense humanitarian gap.
“It’s time to end this war and bring peace to Sudan. The international community must not forget the suffering of Sudanese women and children” implored Fatima Ahmed, Director and founder of Zenab for Women in Development. “Despite the extensive work of aid organizations, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening. Local actors require more resources to end the suffering of women and girls and provide urgently needed assistance.
Echoing demands made in our report capturing the ongoing war on women and girls in Sudan, CARE is calling for CARE is calling for urgent action to support women-led initiatives. We urge the international community to provide adequate, quality, and multi-year funding to WLOs, women’s networks, and emergency response responders (ERRs) in Sudan, as well as refugee-led groups in host countries.
This funding must be flexible enough to adapt to rapidly evolving situations and the changing needs of women and girls. Additionally, we call for the inclusion and support of local women-led groups and networks in humanitarian coordination efforts at sub-national, national, and regional levels, as well as in peacebuilding and security initiatives on a broader scale.
