‘This is what I have to do to survive’: the Sudan refugees forced into sex work

Illustration: Patrycja Podkościelny for The Guardian View image in fullscreen Illustration: Patrycja Podkościelny for The Guardian ‘This is what I have to do to survive’: the Sudan refugees forced into sex work They fled a brutal civil war to reach safety in Egypt, but now many Sudanese women and girls are falling prey to sexual exploitation Sudanese women who fled to Egypt to escape the war in their country are facing increasing levels of sexual exploitation, with the Guardian told of single mothers forced to sell their bodies to survive and feed their children. Many of the women have not previously worked in Sudan, where conservative social norms dictate that men are usually responsible for financial support. Without established trades or professions, and with their husbands and other family members dead or missing, many female refugees are struggling to pay for food, medical care and rent. The Guardian spoke to 19 aid workers, refugees and medical professionals who say a lack of access to healthcare, education and, at times, food has made the situation for Sudanese women in Egypt increasingly desperate. Sudan’s civil war triggered the world’s worst displacement crisis, forcing more than 4.5 million people to flee to neighbouring Chad, South Sudan, Libya and Egypt. The situation in Egypt, which took in the largest number of arrivals, with an estimated 1.5 million people crossing the border, has also become significantly worse. Thousands have found themselves trapped with few resources after a funding shortfall at UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, and the dismantling of USAID eliminated what little support had been available. Unable to work legally, living in poor and often unsafe neighbourhoods, women – who have been among the hardest hit – are acutely vulnerable. Mariam*, who runs a refugee outreach group in Cairo, says 90% of Sudanese women in her neighbourhood, where rent is cheap, have been subject to sexual exploitation. “A woman without a husband, who has children, they target her knowing she won’t have enough to feed them,” Mariam says. “She thinks of doing this just once to cover her immediate expenses, but you’re going to be forced to do it every time.” Even many of those who have spouses are not safe, because their husbands are away from home working long shifts or looking for work in other cities. Khadiga*, who works in the same refugee outreach group, says: “I know a girl who was taken advantage of and the same man who abused her then began abusing her daughter.