'This caused our journey': the relationship between sexual and gender-based violence and cross-border Sudan to South Sudan migration.

Background: Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a significant issue in the context of armed conflict and migration. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to catastrophic levels of SGBV, with widespread documentation of a range of severe and systematic abuses. This study examines the relationship between SGBV and migration in this region, with a particular focus on how it affects women and girls.

Methods: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study was conducted in July 2024 using a 'sensemaking' approach among migrants crossing from Sudan to South Sudan at the Aweil North border crossing. Participants, both women and men aged 13 and older, shared brief narratives about migration experiences and interpreted them through quantitative questions. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, geometric means and confidence intervals for triad data, and violin plots for slider questions. Qualitative data were used to complement and illustrate quantitative findings.

Results: A total of 695 self-interpreted micronarratives were collected from 671 unique participants. Findings revealed that SGBV is a significant driver of migration from Sudan to South Sudan, with 53.1% of participants indicating it as a major factor in their decision to migrate. Adolescent girls were statistically more likely to cite SGBV as the primary reason for migration compared to older women. Participants perceived reception centers in South Sudan as relatively safer compared to Sudan but reported significant challenges in accessing basic needs such as food, shelter, and medical care with approximately 82% struggling to make ends meet all or most of the time.

Conclusions: SGBV is an important driver of migration from Sudan to South Sudan, especially among adolescent girls. These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive SGBV prevention and response services in Sudan, particularly for adolescents. In South Sudan, economic empowerment programs and basic needs assistance for returnees are crucial to mitigate the risks of further sexual exploitation and abuse. Future research should focus on evaluating SGBV prevention and response interventions and exploring intersectional factors affecting SGBV experiences.