USAID- Central Darfur

The protracted conflict between Sudan Army Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now in its eleventh month, has resulted in a significant exodus of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing their residences to seek safety in areas unaffected by the fighting. This mass displacement has placed considerable strain on host states and exacerbated the already fragile availability of essential services. Families, comprising a substantial number of women, girls, elderly individuals, and children, find themselves residing in makeshift settlements lacking adequate protection.

The situation in CD State has remained tense and volatile since the onset of the crisis in April 15, 2023. Incidents of lawlessness, including the activities of criminal gangs, looting of local markets, and destruction of nomadic settlements, have been widespread. Insecurity prevails, hindering the ability of IDPs to resume normal life activities. Moreover, the conflict has spilled over onto major transportation routes connecting Zalingei.

Reports from NADA outreach indicate a concerning prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) and child grievance among IDPs, with numerous cases involving rape and harassment, particularly affecting women, and children. Children are particularly vulnerable, facing exploitation through labor and recruitment, as well as separation from their families. Access to basic necessities such as housing, water, healthcare, and social protection remains severely limited, exacerbating the already dire circumstances.

The identified gaps in protection services have significantly worsened the existing precarious situation, with inadequate measures in place to address the urgent needs of IDPs. Among the most prevalent GBV violations in CD are sexual violence, early and forced marriage, intimate partner violence, and organized GBV crimes, including illegal immigration and forced sex work. Disturbingly high incidences of sexual violence, including rape, assault, exploitation, and physical abuse, have been documented.

Unfortunately, access to survivor-centered legal protection and justice mechanisms is severely constrained, leading to instances where SGBV survivors, particularly women and girls, are coerced into marrying their perpetrators due to a lack of informed decision-making resources. Furthermore, the scarcity of specialized services heightens the risks of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. The breakdown of political, economic, and social structures during conflict has also facilitated a surge in trafficking, forced recruitment, and abduction, with individuals resorting to perilous routes in the absence of viable alternatives. Notably, the normalization of GBV compounds pre-existing discrimination, exacerbating the plight of vulnerable populations. In addition, the dynamics of this conflict have had and continue to have a significant impact on the crisis, the CD state currently being under rule of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Under these circumstances NADA will work with impartiality, not compromising the organization’s neutrality.