“Nowhere in Sudan is Truly Safe for Women”
A Feminist Activist on How to Support Women and Girls through War
In Sudan, the crisis is staggering. After three years of conflict, humanitarian systems have collapsed. Sudan now has the highest number of internally displaced people in the world, and nearly half of Sudan’s population, 19 million people, face acute hunger. Women, girls, and historically marginalized groups are bearing the brunt of the crisis and make up the majority of those needing lifesaving assistance. Conflict and displacement deepen existing inequalities and often increase loss of income and education, and exposure to gender-based violence while limiting their access to medical assistance, caregiving support, and safe shelter.
Our partners in Sudan are providing food, shelter, and safety for women and girls daily in areas few other organizations can reach. Since 1989, Global Fund for Women has provided more than $1.2 million in flexible funding to more than 50 feminist organizations in Sudan.
A Global Fund for Women grantee partner shared what life looks like in Sudan today, and what it takes to sustain feminist organizing amid ongoing war and displacement. To protect her safety, we are keeping her name and organization anonymous.
Tell us about the work you are doing in Sudan.
Our group has helped feed over 80,000 families in Sudan through community kitchens, the majority of them are women-led households.
We provide evacuation protection to safer areas. We help girls return to school by rehabilitating damaged schools and providing school meals. We also provide dignity kits with essential hygiene and menstrual products, and help displaced women and girls find shelter and settle in four states across Sudan.
Other women’s groups are leading similar efforts, closing critical gaps in sexual and reproductive health services, legal aid, and protection.
What does this moment look like on the ground? How are grassroots feminist groups supporting women and girls right now as other systems fail?
Women-led organizations are leading the response, especially in remote areas and places where international aid groups are unable or not allowed to reach. They continue to fill critical gaps as international funding for Sudan’s humanitarian response has shrunk to unprecedented levels this year. Only 16% of the total requested $2.5 billion has been received.
This has led to extreme shortages in access to basic aid such as food, shelter, dignity kits, and rape kits across Sudan and in neighboring countries hosting refugees. The majority of those living in famine conditions are women and children in active conflict areas like Kordofan and Darfur.
Many women fleeing conflict zones, searching for food, or trying to protect their families have reported experiencing sexual violence, arrest, abduction, and death. They also face greater barriers to accessing humanitarian aid due to displacement, caregiving responsibilities, and limited ability to safely travel to areas where services are available.
“Drone attacks have made nowhere in Sudan truly safe for women.”
What forms of support are most urgently needed right now?
As the global energy crisis drives up the price of goods, food remains the most urgent need. Evacuations from fighting areas, sexual and reproductive health services, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene and menstrual kits are all major needs.
In many areas, education has stopped for three years. Access to education is one of the most important needs, and requires investment in safer, better school environments.
As the war is expected to continue for a longer period, income-generation projects for displaced women are highly important to help them rebuild their lives.
Feminist organizations are often operating in a constant state of crisis while advocating for a more just future for everyone. How has this influenced the way groups organize and build community-led solutions over time?
Feminist groups are learning to survive with limited resources while keeping their communities resilient. The last three years have given them valuable knowledge and experience in survival, innovation, and growth. This is helping them build strategies to improve their impact and reach while staying grounded in their values and connected to their communities.
“We believe the world must learn from feminist funding principles and experience, and provide trust-based, flexible funding to feminist groups on the frontlines. This is the best solution to support localized crisis response that is impactful, and sustainable.”
What are Sudanese feminist groups calling for right now?
The international community should recognize the important role of women-led responses in protecting and sustaining communities through crisis. They should commit to providing sustainable, flexible, trust-based funding so women’s groups have the freedom to make decisions to support their communities and protect themselves.
Women responders also need dedicated support to ensure they are protected and have access to safety networks. Last week, local women aid workers, volunteers, and activists were killed, detained, and targeted amid escalating violence in South Kordofan, where dozens of women have reportedly been killed. More support is needed for women-led local peacebuilding efforts, as well as documentation, accountability, and justice for victims of the war.
Support Feminist Leaders Responding in Sudan and Beyond:
Across Sudan, feminist groups continue organizing under extraordinary conditions, providing essential support to women, girls, and historically marginalized communities despite ongoing war.
Your contribution helps move flexible resources directly to grassroots leaders sustaining their communities.
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