Women in Sudan's al-Obeid face drone attacks and rape when fetching water, UN says

Women in Sudan’s al-Obeid are facing extreme danger when attempting to collect water, with reports of drone attacks during the day and sexual violence at night, according to the United Nations. The U.N. agency U.N. Women stated that women and girls in the city are caught in a perilous situation, forced to choose between exposure to aerial bombardments and the risk of sexual assault while seeking essential resources. This comes amid ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has entered its fourth year and left millions in desperate need of aid. Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, has been under siege-like conditions for nearly 18 months, with severe restrictions on access to food, healthcare, and clean water. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, warned earlier this month of a potential human rights catastrophe in the region. He drew parallels to the atrocities witnessed in al-Fashir, North Darfur, last year, emphasizing the gravity of the current crisis. In al-Obeid, drone strikes targeting water sources have made daytime collection unsafe, pushing many to gather water at night, when they become vulnerable to harassment, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. Anna Mutavati, the U.N. Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, described the plight of women and girls in al-Obeid during a press briefing from Nairobi. She noted that these individuals are being subjected to multiple layers of abuse while trying to meet their basic needs. “These women and girls have been harassed. They’ve been raped, and they’ve been subjected to other forms of sexual violence, all while trying to access water, one of life’s most fundamental necessities in human rights,” she said. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has worsened over the past four years, with reports of widespread sexual violence and other abuses becoming increasingly common. According to U.N. Women, approximately 12.7 million women and girls across Sudan require assistance related to gender-based violence this year, a number that has quadrupled since the start of the conflict. While specific figures for al-Obeid were not available, the agency emphasized that around 500,000 people live in the city, with roughly 70 percent being women and children. It anticipated a high demand for support services aimed at addressing sexual violence in the area. However, the capacity to provide such support is diminishing due to funding cuts affecting women-led organizations. A survey conducted by U.N. Women found that two-thirds of women’s groups in Sudan reported closures or significant reductions in safe spaces and gender-based violence services. These constraints further exacerbate the vulnerability of women and girls in regions like al-Obeid, where the lack of protection compounds existing risks. The conflict in Sudan has seen shifting alliances among various factions. Recently, Sudan’s armed forces have formed a new coalition with local militias to counter the RSF, a group that initially operated outside the formal military structure before being integrated into the state apparatus. This evolving dynamic adds complexity to the already volatile security environment, making it even more challenging for civilians to navigate the dangers posed by both combatants and the broader humanitarian crisis. As the war continues, the situation in al-Obeid highlights the deepening humanitarian emergency across Sudan. With no end in sight to the conflict, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the escalating threats to civilian populations, particularly women and children, who bear the brunt of the violence and deprivation.