UN Agency: Drone Strikes and Sexual Violence Worsen Women’s Suffering in El Obeid

Sudanhorizon – Agencies

UN Women expressed concern on Saturday over the escalating impact of drone attacks and sexual violence against women and girls in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State.

In a report, the agency said that daytime drone strikes and nighttime sexual violence have made it virtually impossible for women and girls to find a safe time to leave their homes to collect water.

It noted that access to food, healthcare, and other essential services has become severely restricted, particularly in displacement sites.

The report stressed that access to safe water has become increasingly critical to reducing the risk of deadly waterborne diseases, as the rainy season approaches its peak next month and cholera continues to spread following the reporting of 1,330 cases in early July.

It further warned that the combination of malnutrition—which weakens the immune system and is an increasing concern among women and girls—and limited access to healthcare significantly heightens the risk of serious illness and death.

According to UN Women, testimonies from women and girls in El Obeid indicate that drone strikes targeting water sources and distribution points during daylight hours force them to wait until after dark to collect water.

“Believing that darkness would protect them from aerial attacks, these women and girls instead faced harassment, rape, and other forms of sexual violence while simply trying to obtain water—one of life’s most basic necessities and a fundamental human right,” the report said.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=16278