Women were ‘the first to suffer’ under siege, and the first to act as frontline workers in Sudan

Large-scale conflicts are simply something that happens to other people, or they are fictional.

“I never imagined my life would be like the movies,” he said.

But for him and millions of Sudanese people, this became a reality when war between rival militaries erupted three and a half years ago, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

In the face of mass displacement, hunger and psychosocial trauma, some women – highlighted by the gender equality body, UN Women – rolled up their sleeves and emerged as key responders on the front lines.

Inside besieged Khartoum

Al-Numeiri and his family are one of the many people trapped in the besieged area.

In this case, they were trapped in Khartoum, which is disputed territory between the two main combatants – the RSF and the military government’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Ms Al-Numeiri, a journalist and activist, recalled how communications networks collapsed, banking services became inaccessible, and vital supplies disappeared.

They had nothing to eat except boiled wheat, and they had to burn their furniture to keep warm when the fuel ran out.

Malnutrition, contaminated water and lack of medical care caused him to fall critically ill.

“My body was swollen, my skin was peeling, scabs were starting to peel off. I had a bad fever, and there was blood in my eyes. I couldn’t even see anyone next to me. My family had given up. They said I would die,” he said.

Stand back up

“Sunset came, then evening, and I found myself still alive in my room,” Ms. Al-Numeiri.

After Khartoum was recaptured by government forces in March 2025, and as he recovered, he turned to helping others in his community who were also living and suffering under siege.

While she was collecting food for her family from a soup kitchen – just two spoonfuls of lentils – the woman who ran the kitchen discovered that she was a journalist and encouraged her to post online about the living conditions of families in the city.

She soon volunteered in the kitchen and documented the impact of the war on women and children in videos that went viral online – essentially raising awareness and support for those in need in Sudan.

“I feel like a warrior on the front lines,” he said.

Women ‘first to suffer’ in El Fasher

Hundreds of miles southwest of Khartoum, the town of El Fasher was also besieged by the RSF in October 2025.

Amna Mohamed*, President of a women-led, UN-backed organization that provides food and financial support to women in need in North Darfur, is staying in the city to continue helping her community.

Many of them are unable to escape – especially those caring for elderly relatives, people with disabilities or other dependents who cannot travel, and those who do not have the money to rent a donkey or other mode of transport to leave.

All are experiencing severe food shortages, soaring prices, lack of health services and bombings, but Mohamed stressed that “women are the first to suffer”.

“They may beat or rape you, and sometimes they loot your belongings. Sometimes they ask you to leave the house; they may kill your husband or brother right in front of your eyes, or they may take your daughters right in front of you and take them away to an unknown location,” he said.

“Our relationship with women is direct and close, and as a women-led organization, we are in the best position to serve them; we understand their needs. However, when it comes to funding, projects are sometimes channeled to male-led organizations,” she explains.

Psychological scars

Returning to Khartoum, thousands of women returned after years of refuge in Sudan and neighboring countries.

But for many, although it is the end of one difficult chapter, returning home is just the beginning of another.

Many of them were traumatized from the early stages of the war and the resulting displacement, and they returned to looted homes, having lost everything they owned – even doors and windows.

“After they returned home, the women returned without bringing anything, they lost everything,” explained Israa Hamid Khalil, a psychological support officer at the hospital. UN Women-supporting the East Nile Women’s Empowerment Center in the capital.

The center offers counseling and psychological treatment, as well as training and livelihood support so they can earn an income and support their families.

“Women return to places where they have experienced painful memories and trauma. They cannot just stay at home and continue to remember these things.

“We now address this challenge: How can we help them overcome this stage and begin their journey of psychological recovery?” said Mrs. Khalil.

*name changed to protect identity