Sudan War Diary: The scars of war and the daily struggle to survive
People gather to ride a truck to flee outside Khartoum, Sudan during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army on April 28, 2023.
I am Sudanese and I have been a humanitarian worker since 2017.
I have been a personnel administration manager in Khartoum for MSF since then. But little did I know that this role would lead me through some of my life's most challenging and transformative experiences.
It began one typical Saturday in mid-April 2023 when the unthinkable happened—war broke out in Khartoum. I was at the office when the first shots were fired, and chaos ensued. People ran in every direction, driven by fear and confusion. Along with my colleagues from Sudan and various nationalities, I was hibernating in the office – it was not safe to go outside. For an entire week, we stayed in hibernations.
Eventually, I managed to escape Khartoum, though the journey was fraught with peril. My colleagues were scattered across the city and beyond, and I lost contact with many friends and neighbors. MSF quickly reestablished medical programmes in Wad Madani, Al-Jazeera State, where those who could flee from Khartoum congregated. People were forced to seek refuge in schools, with relatives, or even on the streets in makeshift tents.
We continued our work in Wad Madani for about six months before the conflict erupted there as well. I narrowly escaped, but many of my colleagues were trapped, and dispersed throughout the region. The influx of people fleeing Khartoum had overwhelmed the town. Meanwhile, my family had taken refuge in the relatively calm White Nile State. As the situation in Wad Madani deteriorated, some of us were recalled to Khartoum, which had become somewhat stable, in comparison.
One year has passed, but the scars of war remain fresh. Sudan is a nation crippled by a humanitarian crisis. Empty pockets, silent generators, and dry taps. Hospitals are barely functioning, and those that are open lack basic supplies. The suffering is immense, the casualties too numerous.
Humanitarian organisations like MSF must urgently be granted safe access to deliver essential medical supplies. We are currently working in 11 states across the country, but we face constant challenges to move people and supplies, and for our staff and patients to be safe in medical facilities, that should be respected.
As I reflect on my journey, I am filled with a deep sense of urgency. The war must end. That's the only prayer on the lips of Sudanese people. Together, we can hope for a future where peace prevails, humanitarian aid flows unimpeded to those who need it most. Meanwhile, the international community must not forget the people of Sudan. We are not statistics; we are human beings. This is my story but it’s also the story of millions of people across my country.
