Sudanese Women Find Ways to Overcome Traditional Barriers to Survival

Sudanese Women Take on Manual Labour Amidst Ongoing Conflict

Displacement camps in Ad-Damazin, Blue Nile State, have become a reality for thousands of Sudanese women who are forced into manual labor to feed their families due to the ongoing war. Rasha, a displaced mother, has taken on the role of primary breadwinner after her children’s needs took precedence over traditional gender roles.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 30 million people from a population of 46.8 million are in need of humanitarian assistance due to acute food shortages and nutrition crises, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan regions. The war has also led to disease outbreaks and displaced an estimated 13.6 million people.

Save the Children recently released a report confirming that Sudan is experiencing one of the longest school closures in the world, surpassing even the worst shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data show that only 3 percent of schools remain operational in North Darfur State, while South Darfur and West Kordofan states have 13 and 15 percent operational schools, respectively.

The crisis is further exacerbated by unpaid teachers, abandoned posts, and damaged or converted schools. Aid funding has dried up, leading to famine setting in. OCHA reported that the war affects everyone equally, regardless of age or gender.

Rasha’s story highlights the harsh realities faced by displaced mothers who are forced to choose between traditional norms and survival. Her earnings from manual labor often barely cover basic necessities like food and soap. The situation is dire, with no clear end in sight for the ongoing conflict that has reshaped social norms and introduced new challenges for Sudanese women.

Source: Al Jazeera