Sudan: Perceptions of the Darfur community on the effects of the conflict on women and girls

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently carried out a situation analysis in Darfur, Sudan on the effects of the ongoing conflict on the health and well-being of the 1.64 million girls and women who are affected by the war. Around the world, the devastating impact of conflict has been recorded and its specific impact on women and children documented. In a departure from the normal practice of providing an analysis by experts or 'outsiders,' the UNICEF/UNFPA study analysed the perceptions of the directly affected community; the people of Darfur. The reason for doing so, according to the report, is to help guide international response to the conflict, based on what the community perceives they are experiencing and what they feel is right for them, rather than imposing solutions from outside. The situational analysis, however, was not intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the health situation in the area.