The hidden war on women in Sudan & the impact of HAS donations

Written By Asya Satti

Women and girls in Sudan are enduring unimaginable suffering as the conflict deepens, yet many are still rising to help others survive.

As the humanitarian crisis in Sudan deepens, with little international attention, women and girls are facing a reality marked by hunger, displacement, and increasingly widespread sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Behind the headlines of conflict lies a deeper, often overlooked story: the war on women’s bodies and futures.

A crisis within a crisis: sexual violence against women in Sudan as a weapon of war

When it comes to SGBV, the reality is harrowing. The number of rape cases reported across Sudan has been increasing week on week. With accounts of girls, some as young as one year old, being sexually assaulted by armed fighters. Survivors are not only left physically and emotionally scarred but are oftentimes forced to carry pregnancies from rape, facing rejection, isolation, and in many cases, lifelong trauma. 

The majority of survivors are pregnant girls in their last trimester. Yet there are few safe places for them to go for protection. Most safe spaces for Sudanese women have vanished. Survivors, especially pregnant teenage girls, struggle to access protection, healthcare, or even basic shelter. Some have committed suicide due to rape. 

"We are scared and live in fear" - voices from women in Sudan on the ground

“We do not sleep like before,” says one woman displaced in Sudan. “Even if some of us are physically healthy, mentally we are affected. We are scared and live in fear.”

Despite this, the resilience of Sudanese women is resolute. Across displacement camps and host communities, women are volunteering at community kitchens, teaching and caring for the sick. In Northern Sudan, displaced families from the center have been welcomed in by local communities, forming a new, fragile sense of home. 

How HAS is supporting survivors of gender-based violence in Sudan

At HAS (Humanitarian Aid Sudan), we are responding directly to this crisis by providing life-saving aid and emotional support to survivors of SGBV.

In displacement camps, HAS distributes food, hygiene supplies, and dignity kits, which include essential items such as sanitary products and soap. These basic provisions offer not just relief, but a sense of dignity and care.

We also support the Almala Safe House, a vital refuge for women recovering from sexual violence. Here, survivors receive support, medical care, and the safety they need to begin healing.

Recent stories from women in Sudan of survival and strength

A 17 year old girl recently shared her distressing experience with HAS:

“I have been raped and am pregnant with some health issues, and I am away from my family out of fear and I have no support. I am grateful for the volunteers and HAS support to go through the day.”

Another young woman, in the final stages of a pregnancy from rape, told us:

“I now got support from HAS that helped me a lot. But she added, “there are many others like me…”

Despite their trauma, women continue to volunteer in collective kitchens feeding other displaced families. They express deep gratitude to the Sudanese diaspora and international supporters for standing by them.

“You are the ones who saved our lives,” one volunteer told us.

Act Now

The situation for women and girls in Sudan is critical. Women and girls continue to suffer daily, either as targets of sexual violence or as caregivers struggling to survive in the most difficult conditions. Yet they continue to support one another. We need your support to help them, as they continue to help themselves.

We must act now. Emergency aid, protection and support are essential to making sure Sudanese women and girls are able to live in dignity. 

Sudan’s women are not just victims of war. They are survivors, caregivers and change-makers. But they cannot carry this burden alone. Join us in supporting them today.

How you can help women in Sudan:



Asya Satti