Surviving the horrors of sexual violence

Since the ongoing crisis in Sudan started on 15 April 2023, women and girls have been directly affected by the conflict severely and they are still suffering from all types of violations as result of the vulnerable security situation created by this fast-moving conflict. According to the UN reports, millions of Sudanese women and girls have been internally displaced, separated from their children and their families and lost their jobs. Furthermore, the conflict has left thousands of women and girls vulnerable against risks of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).  

Within the framework of supporting women affected by SGBV, World Vision with support from UNHCR has established the Programme to Prevent, Mitigate and Respond to Gender-Based Violence against Women and Girls in order to promote case management and referral pathways to address gender-based violence among vulnerable groups. This programme aims at providing essential GBV services in the areas where affected women and girls are located.

*Jamila a 34-year-old lady, a survivor of (SGBV) during the ongoing conflict in Sudan shares her story with World Vision team. Due to disagreements with her husband, she was subjected to severe domestic violence that ended with a divorce after 11-years of marriage. She was displaced from Omdurman in Khartoum to East Darfur. “While I was staying in Omdurman, armed group of men attacked my house. They took all my belongings and assaulted me. But the worst experience I encountered was when I was fleeing from Khartoum to East Darfur. I was raped by eight armed individuals on the way and all my belongings were looted again by these gunmen. I was then raped and beaten three times by thieves on the way from Omdurman to East Darfur,” narrates Jamila.

 "I was so desperate and filled with guilt that I thought of committing suicide to get rid of the feelings of losing control and disgust that shadowed me. But despite my frustration and pain I decided to continue my journey to East Darfur,” she says.

 When she arrived in East Darfur, she met with local authorities and World Vision's GBV focal point who has arranged her engagement to World Vision’s protection programme.

Through the case management protocols and referral pathways, Jamila is currently receiving mental health services, psychosocial support, medical and legal support as well. Additionally, she has been helped to start an income-generating activity to improve her income. “I feel a little better now. The generous assistance has helped me recover from my distress but there is still a long way to go,” says Jamila.

The reality of what happened to Jamila still haunts her. Through World Vision’s GBV interventions, Jamila was provided with the basic life-saving assistance like in-kind support as well as being enrolled for receiving Psychosocial Support (PSS) facilitated by World Vision to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in the region.

*Name changed to protect identity. 

This case study is part of a larger report. Please click here to check it.