'A living hell': Sudanese women face rape and abuse in Libya

Layla, Salma, Jamila, and Hanaa, Sudanese refugees in Libya, recount harrowing experiences of being trafficked, held captive, and subjected to violence since fleeing war in their homeland.

After crossing into Libya in search of safety, they found instead a cycle of exploitation—held hostage by traffickers, raped, and denied justice.

Libya’s lack of a refugee protection framework and divided governments have left them vulnerable to severe abuse.

These women, now struggling to survive with little food and no protection, have little hope of returning home.

Their stories reveal the dire conditions faced by Sudanese refugees, caught in a nightmare far from the promise of safety and new beginnings.