Plan International condemns sexual violence against girls in Al Jazirah, Sudan
15 November 2024Plan International is deeply disturbed by the continued use of rape and sexual violence against women and girls in Sudan, amidst a conflict that is showing no signs of yielding, 19 months on.
The recent reports of mass killings, rape and sexual violence in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state in October have brought to the fore the shocking extent of the targeted sexual violence cases and how girls and young women of Sudan remain at the centre of this horrific ordeal.
Reports suggest more than 100 civilians have been killed, with many more injured as over 30 villages were attacked. Multiple cases of rape have been reported. These numbers are likely to be much higher as many attacks go unreported.
“The accounts from witnesses and survivors of the recent attacks across Al Jazirah state speak to a shocking and horrific level of cruelty and brutality against civilians,” says Mohammed Qazilbash, Plan International’s Country Director in Sudan.
“It is beyond heartbreaking to hear accounts of women and girls committing suicide to avoid becoming victims of sexual violence. This is yet another wake-up call that the priority should be the protection of civilians from human rights and international humanitarian law violations,” he added.
Tens of thousands displaced
In addition to the high number of casualties, the upsurge in violence across Al Jazirah state has resulted in displacement of tens of thousands to Gedaref, Kassala and River Nile states. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) have reported 135,400 people have become displaced from Aj Jazirah following these recent attacks.
The displacement from Al Jazirah has overwhelmed limited local services in reception sites for displaced people, including healthcare, education, water, and sanitation, placing immense pressure on the capacity and resources of the local authorities and humanitarian partners to respond.
Plan International continues to call on all parties of the conflict to fulfil their obligations to protect civilians, especially children and girls, across Sudan and immediately end all 6 grave violations against children in conflict specifically targeting them, including sexual violence.
The child rights and humanitarian NGO is present across Sudan, providing education in emergencies, child protection, sexual gender based violence case management, and food to families impacted by the conflict.
Critical shortage of emergency services
The patterns of sexual violence, including rape, documented in the attacks are prohibited under International Humanitarian Law and will have devastating effects for survivors in a situation where they face a critical shortage of emergency services, such as post-rape care and psychosocial support services. Humanitarian organisations must have unfettered access to survivors and all civilians in need. All attacks against civilians must end.
Plan International urges the international community to take immediate action to hold those responsible for these grave violations to account and to intensity efforts towards ensuring international humanitarian law obligations, and Jeddah Declaration commitments, are respected and implemented on the ground by all armed parties.
Categories: Emergencies, Protection from violence
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