August 23, Al Daein — South Sudanese women refugees in a camp in Abu Karinka, East Darfur were subjected to repeated sexual assault by gunmen. Armed men forced the refugees to leave the camp, but local community leaders intervened and returned them.

Thousands of refugees from South Sudan in the camps of East Darfur state are complaining of harsh humanitarian conditions and insecurity due to the ongoing war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

According to Deng Garang, a camp supervisor, armed youth also seized a water point established by humanitarian NGOs and “converted it to a profitable institution for their own benefit.” 

Sudan’s East Darfur is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis as the conflict in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur intensifies. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled into neighboring East Darfur. One of its major hospitals in El Daein was bombed out of service this week and at least 15 people were killed.  

Another host community leader in Abu Karinka — who preferred to remain anonymous — told Darfur 24 that all sexual assault suspects had been arrested, and three were convicted and transferred to a prison in El Daein.