Two Girls from the Same Family Subjected to Sexual Assault by Armed Men in Darfur
Two girls, one a minor, were sexually assaulted by masked armed men in North Darfur's Tarni forest while collecting firewood, highlighting escalating gender-based violence amid health crisis and acute medical care shortages.
SUDAN – Systematic sexual violence crimes against women in Sudan continue as a tool of war amid a complete absence of accountability. These grave violations require urgent international intervention to protect victims and stop their catastrophic repercussions on human dignity.
Local sources revealed that two girls from the same family. Ome of them a 14-year-old minoe, were subjected to sexual assault committed by masked armed men in the Tarni forest, south of Tawila locality in North Darfur State.
According to preliminary information, three masked armed men intercepted the two girls as they were going out to collect firewood from one of the displacement camps in the area, and assault them, before they were transferred to Tawila Hospital to receive medical care.
A medical source at the hospital confirmed the arrival of the two cases to the hospital yesterday, Monday, 27 October, and their subjection to medical examinations and the provision of primary care to them. Meanwhile, sources in local protection networks explained that they provided initial psychological support to the two survivors and their family.
This incident comes at a time when data from UN and local organizations indicate an alarming escalation in cases of gender-based violence in the Darfur region since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan in April 2023.
Such violations against women and girls are repeated in displacement camps, especially during their work to earn a living such as collecting firewood or agricultural work, in light of fragile security conditions and the absence of protection. At the same time, hospitals in North Darfur suffer from a complex health crisis, represented by an acute shortage of medicines, long-term psychological support services, and specialized care for minors.
Human rights organizations call for the necessity of providing protection for the displaced in the camps, securing safe alternatives to firewood and fuel, and providing safe and confidential referral paths for survivors, while committing not to disclose their identities in respect for their dignity and safety.