Sexual Exploitation For Survival: Women Forced To Trade Sex For Food In Sudan’s Crisis

In the midst of Sudan’s brutal civil war, women are being coerced into sexual exploitation by soldiers in exchange for food, according to a harrowing report by The Guardian. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has pushed the country into a dire humanitarian crisis, with widespread violence and famine exacerbating the suffering of civilians.

The report highlights the grim reality faced by women fleeing from the Sudanese city of Omdurman. Over two dozen women have shared their stories of being forced to have sex with soldiers to secure essential supplies. These women, struggling to provide for their families, found that their only option for accessing food or goods to sell was through sexual favors. One survivor recounted her experiences at a meat-processing factory, where soldiers were stationed amid stockpiles of food. She described how, despite her efforts to shield her daughter from the harsh realities of the conflict, she was compelled to turn to soldiers for sustenance.

The systematic sexual abuse reportedly began shortly after the outbreak of the civil war, which has seen the Sudanese army clashing with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, with some estimates suggesting a death toll as high as 150,000. The war has also triggered the world’s worst displacement crisis, displacing over 11 million people and pushing Sudan to the brink of famine.

Women who have endured these atrocities describe a pattern of exploitation by RSF fighters in areas they control. The soldiers have demanded sex in return for access to abandoned homes, where looting has become a means to obtain items for sale. One woman explained that after being forced to have sex with soldiers, she was allowed to take food, kitchen equipment, and perfumes from empty houses. She described her experience as indescribable and expressed that she endured it solely to feed her children.

Residents of Omdurman have reported seeing women lining up outside abandoned houses, waiting for soldiers to choose them based on their appearance. These scenes are accompanied by distressing sounds of screaming, with residents feeling powerless to intervene. One woman recounted a brutal incident where, after refusing to continue her sexual services, she was tortured and had her legs burned by soldiers.

Despite the gravity of the situation, some soldiers have admitted to witnessing such abuses, though one denied direct involvement. “It’s awful. The amount of the sins in this city can never be forgiven,” the soldier said, reflecting on the widespread moral decay wrought by the ongoing conflict.

The report underscores the desperate and degrading conditions faced by women in Sudan, exposing the severe human rights violations occurring in the shadow of a devastating war.