Key facts
- Women and girls in Sudan's al-Obeid are subjected to drone attacks and sexual violence while trying to access water.
- Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, is experiencing severe shortages of food, healthcare, and clean water.
- Intensifying fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF has led to siege-like conditions for civilians.
- Gender-based violence services are shrinking due to funding cuts to women-led organizations.
- An estimated 12.7 million women and girls in Sudan require support for gender-based violence.
Women and girls in Sudan's al-Obeid are facing extreme dangers when attempting to secure water, with UN Women reporting that they are subjected to drone attacks during the day and sexual violence at night. The city, capital of North Kordofan, has been under siege-like conditions for 18 months, leading to critical shortages of food, healthcare, and clean water. Intensifying fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has created a dire humanitarian situation, with the UN's human rights chief warning of a catastrophe.
According to UN Women, there is no safe time for women and girls to collect water. Drone strikes on water sources during daylight hours have forced many to venture out after dark, when they face harassment, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, stated that these women and girls have been harassed and raped while trying to access water, a fundamental necessity.
Across Sudan, the number of women and girls in need of support from gender-based violence services has quadrupled since the war began, reaching an estimated 12.7 million this year. While specific data for al-Obeid was not available, the agency noted that approximately 70% of the city's 500,000 residents are women and children, indicating a high need for support against sexual violence. Compounding the crisis, funding cuts to women-led organizations have led to the closure or significant reduction of safe spaces and gender-based violence services.