Current Wars in the World Drive Sexual Violence and Mass Displacement
Ongoing armed conflicts around the world continue to drive widespread sexual violence against women and girls, mass displacement, and high military casualties, with new reports detailing abuses in Sudan, escalating hostilities in Yemen, gang violence in Haiti, and daily Russian losses in Ukraine as current wars in the world intensify humanitarian crises.
Widespread Sexual Violence in Sudan
Women's groups report widespread sexual violence, exploitation, detention and rape by RSF members across Sudan including gang-rapes in Omdurman, Khartoum and Darfur, with more than 225 cases in one displacement camp and over 71 cases in a single week in Kordofan. [1] A young woman who fled the Murda neighbourhood in Omdurman with her mother was repeatedly gang-raped during their journey in search of dialysis treatment. [1] Her mother died on the journey, and the woman later discovered in Kassala that she was pregnant as a result of the rape. [1] The survivor, who was adopted and was under 18 when she left Omdurman, was allegedly raped by a group of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces members. [1] The survivor eventually reached Kassala, where women's groups helped connect her with doctors and secure a safe place to stay. [1] Twenty-eight Filipino women reported being detained in a building in El Mamoura on 60th Street in Khartoum in August 2023. [1] RSF members gang-raped the women before women's organisations helped evacuate them to Wad Madani and then Port Sudan, where they received initial medical examinations and were prepared for repatriation. [1] In Darfur more than 225 cases of sexual violence and other abuses had been recorded in a single displacement camp more than three months earlier. [1] Sexual violence had continued across Sudan, with more than 71 cases recorded in a single week in Kordofan during some periods. [1] Displaced women and girls arriving in White Nile were also reporting repeated sexual violence, while abuses continued in Darfur alongside targeting based on race and tribal identity. [1] Women and girls were also facing sexual exploitation, sexual slavery and torture, particularly as hunger and the collapse of livelihoods left them increasingly vulnerable. [1]
Challenges in Documenting Abuses
Fear, insecurity, lack of documentation and risk of retaliation mean the true scale of sexual violence and abuses in Sudan is likely far higher than recorded figures. [1] Widespread secrecy and the near-complete absence of documentation made it difficult to establish the true scale of violations. [1] Some communities also lacked awareness of the importance and legal value of documenting abuses. [1] Families often avoided speaking publicly about detainees for fear that disclosure could expose them to further torture, mistreatment or denial of food and medicine. [1] Fear of retaliation meant reported cases were far below the actual scale of violations. [1] Weak protection and justice systems, combined with continuing conflict and insecurity, were allowing violence against women and girls to go largely undocumented. [1]
Escalating Hostilities Displace Thousands in Yemen
Rapidly escalating hostilities along Yemen’s western coast and southern Taiz frontlines since early September have displaced more than 145,000 people, with numbers doubling in the past two weeks and displaced women and girls facing serious health and protection risks. [3] Displaced women and girls are among the most vulnerable and face serious health and protection risks. [3] UNFPA estimates that approximately 35,000 women of childbearing age and many more girls among the displaced population require urgent support amid the hostilities that have continued since early September. [3]
New Displacement from Armed Violence in Haiti
Armed violence in Haiti’s Gros Morne commune in Artibonite has triggered new displacements tracked by the International Organization for Migration. [4] The Emergency Tracking Tool recorded displacements following armed violence in the commune of Gros Morne in Artibonite between 28 and 30 September 2026. [4] The International Organization for Migration documented the movements through its Suivi des Urgences tool covering the same period and locations. [5]
Daily Russian Losses in Ukraine Conflict
Russia lost 1,520 soldiers and 37 artillery systems in the past day, bringing its total personnel losses since February 2022 to 1,537,390 according to Ukraine’s General Staff. [2] The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 2 October 2026 include approximately 1,537,390 military personnel after the addition of 1,520 in the latest period along with 50,592 artillery systems after the addition of 37. [2] Additional daily losses included 7 armoured combat vehicles, 1 multiple-launch rocket system, 7 helicopters, 1,470 operational-tactical UAVs, 422 vehicles and fuel tankers, and 6 special vehicles. [2]
Broader Humanitarian Impact Across Conflicts
The war was also deepening the risks faced by women who tried to earn a living. [1] Women farmers in some areas were unable to cultivate small plots because of the threat of abuse. [1] The disruption of education was putting Sudan's next generation at risk, with children dropping out of school and facing the prospect of losing basic literacy and other skills. [1] Displaced women and girls arriving from conflict zones face serious health and protection risks amid the hostilities that have continued since early September. [3] Activists warned that weak protection and justice systems combined with continuing conflict and insecurity were allowing violence against women and girls to go largely undocumented while numbers of displaced people doubled over the past two weeks in Yemen. [1] [3]
What to watch next: Reports indicate that hostilities along Yemen’s western coast and southern Taiz frontlines have continued since early September with displacement numbers doubling in the past two weeks, while Russian personnel losses reached 1,537,390 as of 2 October 2026 and sexual violence cases in Sudan remain under-documented due to fear of retaliation.
