The ongoing conflict in Sudan has seen the systematic use of sexual violence, leading to a severe mental health crisis. From January 2024 to November 2025, 3,396 survivors of sexual violence sought treatment, although the actual number is believed to be significantly higher. Due to security risks and limited resources, access to care remains constrained, resulting in rising cases of suicide and mental health disorders, according to UN agencies. Geneva, April 16 – The deliberate use of sexual violence amid the Sudanese conflict has extended its impact beyond physical harm, precipitating a grave mental health emergency. United Nations-affiliated bodies and local support groups have expressed profound concern, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate and long-term psychosocial assistance for survivors.
Since April 2023, the intense clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced approximately 11 million people. In this violent setting, multiple reports have documented the weaponization of rape and other sexual crimes. According to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), at least 3,396 survivors have sought treatment at health centers in North and South Darfur operated by the organization between January 2024 and November 2025. The majority of these survivors are women and adolescent girls. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that these figures represent only a small fraction of the true scale.
Avani Amin, head of WHO’s Gender-based Violence Unit, highlighted the immense challenges survivors face in accessing services. She noted that insecurity, difficulty reaching healthcare facilities, and a shortage of healthcare workers trained to handle such cases have compounded the problem. Amin underscored the pervasive social stigma that silences many survivors, stating, “For every case that comes to light, there are likely many more women enduring suffering in silence.”
Nimat Ahmadi from the Darfur Woman Action Group detailed the harrowing circumstances confronting women who seek treatment after violence. She reported that many suffer from serious health complications, notably fistulas, resulting from gang rapes. “Even during peaceful times, there was a dire shortage of medical professionals for such cases, and currently, available services are nearly nonexistent,” she explained. Ahmadi further revealed that many healthcare facilities are controlled by armed groups, inducing fear among survivors of abduction and further assault upon hospital visits. She recalled an incident in which RSF fighters entered a hospital, shooting healthcare workers and committing sexual assaults, with a pregnant patient succumbing to injuries during the attack.
The withdrawal of international aid organizations due to security concerns, coupled with cuts in humanitarian assistance, has exacerbated the crisis. According to Ahmadi, only small local women’s organizations remain to provide services, intensifying risks for survivors. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has also reported the severe impact of service shortages on survivors. Soko Arakaki, head of UNFPA’s humanitarian response, stressed the critical need for treatment within 72 hours of sexual violence incidents, noting current deficiencies in medicine and care. She emphasized a particularly urgent demand for mental health support, describing a rise in severe psychological distress among survivors. “There has also been an increase in suicide cases,” Arakaki said. Although official data collection remains difficult, local sources have indicated a growing number of women resorting to suicide to escape fear of rape and consequent social exclusion. Avani Amin of WHO reinforced the importance of prioritizing mental health support alongside life-saving interventions. She warned that the effects of such conflicts endure not only in the immediate term but across generations, calling for the development of comprehensive preparedness and support systems now.
