Against the backdrop of Sudan’s escalating war and the resulting mass displacement into South Sudan, this article situates women’s mental health within one of the world’s largest and most under‑resourced humanitarian crises. Protracted violence, cross‑border flight and life in settlement centres have exposed women and girls to severe trauma while mental health services remain limited and under‑prioritised in humanitarian responses.
This journal article presents a mixed‑methods qualitative analysis of trauma and resilience among displaced women and girls fleeing Sudan into South Sudan. Drawing on over 300 micronarratives collected using a sensemaking approach, it documents widespread experiences of psychological trauma, including sexual violence and loss, alongside the compounding effects of inadequate support in settlement settings. Importantly, the study also foregrounds women’s resilience and adaptive capacities, highlighting opportunities for interventions that build on existing strengths. The findings provide critical evidence for strengthening mental health and psychosocial support within cross‑border humanitarian policy and programming.