Increase in rape rates among displaced women in South Darfur

Kampala-Nyala: Al-Fatih Bahlol

The agricultural area in South Darfur State, which is controlled by the insurgent Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Militia, has receded to less than 5% due to the lack of seeds and production inputs as well as the high rates of rape among displaced women who are active in agricultural operations in the state.

The General Coordinator of the Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps in South Darfur State, Yagoub Mohamed Abdullah, stressed to ( Sudanese Echoes ) that there is real suffering among the IDPs that is worsening every day since the outbreak of the April 15 war, which raised their suffering, a matter that has become a threat among the displaced persons, particularly farmers, considering that agriculture is the main profession for most of the IDPs in the camps (Kalma, Otash, Dereij and Al-Salam), adding that the lack of security in South Darfur State has propelled many residents of some cities and villages to resort to the camps, considering them safer despite the lack of food and medicine.

Yagoub asserted that the camp residents share shelter, food and drink with the newly displaced people from the villages, unveiling the lack of shelter materials due to the departure of most organizations, calling for the opening of safe corridors to deliver humanitarian aid.

For his part, a citizen anonymously divulged to (Sudanese Echoes) the high rates of rape among the displaced, which caused the residents of the camps to refrain from going out to farm, in addition to the lack of seeds and agricultural inputs, pointing to the reduction in the agricultural area, which has become no more than (5%). An informed source confirmed that the only organization present in the state, International Medical Corps (IMC), has notified its workers to prepare to leave.