Sexual violence 'becoming a way of life' in Darfur

20/06/2008

Rape and sexual abuse is becoming a way of life for thousands of women and children living in Sudan's embattled Darfur region, CNN reports.

Peacekeepers have reported that girls as young as four are being targeted by roaming criminals who use the ongoing conflict between rebel forces and government-backed militias as cover for their offences.

"That is one of the biggest issues in Darfur - the rapes, and crimes against women and children," said Michael Fryer, police commissioner of Unamid, the UN peacekeeping operating in the region.

Humanitarian workers say they are aware of the attacks, but feel powerless to confront the perpetrators without invoking retribution.

For its part, the government rubbishes claims of widespread abuse, accusing aid agencies of ruffling feathers within the international community in order to damage Sudan's image.

"There is no rape in Darfur," Mohammad Hassan Awad, a humanitarian aid commissioner for west Darfur, confidently asserted.

According to relief agencies, however, in certain refugee camps the majority of women have now become accustomed to some form of gender-based sexual or physical violence.

Many of the victims are said to be young teenage girls who depart from the relative safety of the camps in order to run errands such as gathering firework. Their male relatives are reportedly too scared to accompany them for fear of being killed.

Since violence broke out in 2006, an estimated 300,000 people have lost their lives in Darfur and millions more have been displaced.


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