As the conflict in Sudan reaches its one-year mark next Monday, April 15th, the disproportionate impacts on women and girls become increasingly dire. They have borne the brunt of displacement, hunger, increased gender-based violence, and reduced access to essential services as direct consequences of the ongoing war.
Ahead of the International Paris Conference for Sudan and its neighboring countries, CARE and some of our partners in Sudan, Chad and South Sudan analyze how 12 months of conflict have made the existing crisis even worse and created nothing short of a war on women and girls.
Because they are women:
· Women and girls are the main targets of gender-based violence
· They are the vast majority of the people displaced within and outside Sudan
· Hunger and looming famine disproportionately affect them
· Their sexual and reproductive health needs are alarmingly unmet
Yet, in the face of violence and adversity, Sudanese women have demonstrated unwavering resilience and leadership. They have been at the forefront of the humanitarian response, supporting the specific needs of those most affected by the conflict, especially where international organizations have been unable or severely restricted to deliver aid.
Read Because They Are Women to learn about the impacts of the Sudan war on women and girls and how international support is crucial to help bolster their resilience efforts.
The Brief has been endorsed by the following organizations in Chad and Sudan: Zenab for Women in Development, United Peace Organization, Global Aid Hand, Nirvana, Raira Organization for Awareness & Development, Young Women Christian Association of South Sudan, Agency for Child Relief Aid.