Sudan child tragedy

UNICEF Reports Over 200 Children Raped in Sudan Amid Ongoing Conflict

By Sharnellia Bennett-Smith

Sudan - A devastating report from UNICEF has revealed that more than 200 children, including infants as young as one, have been raped in Sudan since the beginning of 2024. The sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war in the ongoing conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leaving children as some of the most vulnerable victims in a brutal struggle for power.

UNICEF officials have called the reports "horrific beyond words" and stressed that the actual number of incidents is likely far higher due to the stigma and fear preventing survivors and their families from coming forward. Human rights organizations warn that sexual violence is being systematically employed as a tool of terror and control, a tactic that has been seen in previous conflicts but has now reached an alarming scale in Sudan.

The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF erupted in April 2023, plunging the country into chaos, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Women and children have been particularly targeted, with mass displacement, sexual violence, and starvation being used as weapons of war. The lack of access to medical and psychological support services for survivors has only compounded the crisis, leaving many without the necessary aid to recover from their trauma.

The United Nations and other international agencies have called for an immediate ceasefire and stronger protections for civilians, emphasizing that the rape of children in conflict zones constitutes a grave violation of international law. Meanwhile, human rights advocates are demanding that perpetrators be held accountable through international legal mechanisms, as Sudan's internal justice system remains largely paralyzed by the conflict.

Despite the calls for intervention, Sudan’s humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with little sign of resolution. Aid organizations struggle to reach victims due to security risks, and the ongoing instability has led to widespread lawlessness, making it nearly impossible to protect vulnerable populations.