Months-Long War in Sudan Force Women to Seek Relief
Hundreds of women have gathered outside the Women and Children Development Association's office in the eastern Sudanese village of Jabait, hoping to receive some form of assistance. While some of these women have come from Jabait, others are locals.
More than 7.3 million people have fled their homes since the conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) nine months ago; approximately half of those displaced are children. Responding to the crisis, the WCDA and other local women's groups are working on the frontlines.
A woman named Manal Adam Yousif, who is in her twenties and hails from the town of Nyala in Amidst the largest displacement crisis in the world, women in Sudan are seeking relief.
Hundreds of women have gathered outside the Women and Children Development Association's office in the eastern Sudanese village of Jabait, hoping to receive some form of assistance. While some of these women have come from Jabait, others are locals.
More than 7.3 million people have fled their homes since the conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) nine months ago; approximately half of those displaced are children. Responding to the crisis, the WCDA and other local women's groups are working on the frontlines.
A woman named Manal Adam Yousif, who is in her twenties and hails from the town of Nyala in South Darfur state, recounted the events of the town attack and subsequent fighting, explaining that she and her family—including her mother, sister, and little son—had to flee the town.
“We left my husband and little brothers behind. We travelled overland for two days until we reached the town of El Daein in South Darfur. I felt very ill there because I had recently given birth by caesarean surgery,” she said
After three months in El Daein, Yousif and her family were once again compelled to relocate, this time to Jabait in the east and then to Port Sudan in the west, as the conditions there grew increasingly unbearable. She is still nursing her infant son while they travel. Yousif is worried about her family even from Jabait, where she is relatively safe. Her sister went back to Nyala to try to persuade their brothers to come with them.
“My last contact with her was two months ago and I do not know anything about her or my husband”, she said. “We received news that two of my cousins had been killed after a grenade fell in their house. My neighbour was also killed, and her daughter’s hand was cut off.”
“Unfortunately, our house and all other houses in the neighbourhoods were robbed. So, I am very afraid for the rest of my family”, Yousif said.
Sudan is home to more displaced people than any other country, including the greatest concentration of displaced children anywhere in the world. The WCDA has partnered with UN Women to provide hygiene kits, water, household items, and other humanitarian aid to Yousif and other displaced women and children. According to Yousif, the assistance has greatly improved their lives, but they are still missing many necessities.
"We just fled with the clothes we are wearing...winter brings many diseases," she said, pointing out that her son and numerous other children were sick. “I do not have the money to take him to the hospital…I hope the war will stop and there will be safety and stability so that we can return to our homes and families.”
While Asmaa Hassan Ali and her two daughters made it to Port Sudan from Darfur, she bemoaned the loss of her relatives she had to abandon. She is currently residing at the Mohamed Shaybah shelter, which is a hub for UN Women services.
“We were given hygiene kits from the organization, and that was one of the few moments when I felt temporary happiness”, she said. “My daughters and I desperately need these personal and necessary things for us as women.”
But Ali bemoaned her inability to meet "the most basic personal needs" for her daughters.
In Sudan, local women's groups are working with UN Women and five other large women's organisations to implement a humanitarian emergency plan. Nearly 4.9 million people in Sudan received life-saving aid from 163 local humanitarian partners between April 15, 2023, and November 15, 2023. Additionally, 5.7 million people received support for agriculture and livelihoods. As part of one initiative, UN Women collaborated with the Red Sea State Emergency Room to assist individuals who required it the most.
"One thousand hygiene kits were distributed to the internally displaced women during the month of December," said Samira Muhammad Suleiman, a volunteer lawyer with the Women Awareness Raising 'Awoon' group, which works with the emergency room programme. Due to the delicate nature of the situation, the ladies require these things immediately.
Even though millions have received aid, the situation is still very bad. The provision of humanitarian aid faces numerous obstacles, including insecurity, looting, bureaucratic hurdles, poor phone connectivity, a lack of funds, and a shortage of technical and humanitarian personnel. The transportation of aid workers and their supplies is further hindered by power and fuel shortages.
While contemplating the ongoing need for additional assistance in order to reside in safety with her daughters, Ali expressed her deep desire for the war to come to a close at the Mohamed Shaybah shelter, emphasising the importance of returning to their homes and families.