Victims of asylum and displacement in Sudan tell sad stories and tragedies about their conditions and the RSF militia’s violations

Investigation: Marwan Al-Rayah

The outbreak of war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese army and the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Militia, led to a mass displacement of civilians inside and outside the country, as millions of Sudanese people were forced to leave their homes and lives in search of security. The war produced heartbreaking stories and tragedies, as every Sudanese citizen has a different story since the outbreak of the ongoing war.

Displacement Stories and Tragedies

It is estimated that more than 5 million citizens have been internally displaced to the stable states of Sudan, fleeing the fighting and violence practiced by the rebel RSF militia against innocent citizens. Their stories reveal indescribable suffering, as they face severe shortages of food, water and shelter. The displacement conditions expose them to the risk of disease, violence and an unknown fate, in addition to living in shelters that lack a number of essential services.

The Citizen (Mohamed Omar), who was displaced from Gezira State to Kassala State, says that when the rebel RSF militia personnel entered his village, they stole all the vehicles and shops, then began stealing homes and forcibly evicting their residents; (Mohamed) and the people of his village have left everything they owned behind them, and headed to Kassala State, then to the displacement shelter center in Kassala State. Speaking to (Sudanese Echoes), Mohamed pointed out to his suffering and his family of 6 kids plus his diabetic father, as the journey from Gezira State to Gadarif State took 8 days on foot. “Thousands of citizens lived days of suffering and tragedies during their exit from their homeland, in Gezira State, after the RSF insurgent militia attacked them.

Stealing Agricultural Crops in Gezira

The suffering of the farmer Abu Bakr Abdel-Rahman from Gezira State, whose the RSF militia stole about 230 sacks of onions that he had harvested before the rebel militia invaded the state. Abu Bakr, who is from the village of Al-Kashamir, told the (Sudanese Echoes) that at the beginning of the crops harvest, the rebel RSF militia besieged the area and stole homes and cars, then began stealing livestock and agricultural crops. Abu Bakr pointed out that he distributed some onions and tomatoes to the villagers in the first days of the militia’s invasion of the state, but he failed to transport the rest of the sacks of onions to a safe place after the means of transport stopped working due to the militia’s attack and the theft of some of them before the owners of the trucks transported them to Gadaref State, then, he added, “A militia force came and stole all the crops stored in the village by force of arms. What happened to Abu Bakr in the village of Al-Kashamir happened in most of Gezira villages , where the rebel RSF militia elements stole all the agricultural crops from the citizens.

Ayman’s Sad Story

(Ayman Muawia) is a citizen who works in the mobile phone trade in the famous Al-Salam building in the capital Khartoum. Ayman says that his store in Al-Salam building was completely looted in the first month of the war, as Ayman left his home in Al-Haj Yousuf for Sennar State, Singa city, with his wife, after 5 months. Ayman affirms, in his interview with the (Sudanese Echoes) that Khartoum is no longer being that safe city, as thefts have become in broad daylight despite the scarcity of food supplies and the interruption of the communication network and electricity, but he remained in his home for 5 months to think about leaving for Singa city, where his wife’s family lives there. Ayman continues saying that he began to adapt to the situation in the city through freelance work in the market, but the invasion of the militia to Singa made him leave immediately to Gadaref State, where he became a displaced person in one of the shelters. Ayman said that the shelter center lacks many basic things such as toilets and a severe shortage of food and medicine, with the spread of diseases due to the rains and the gathering of mosquitoes and flies. Ayman added that there exist free meals provided by charitable to the displacement shelters, but they are not enough for the large number inside the shelters.

Fleeing Risks

Millions of Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries in search of a safe haven, and have become refugees in Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan and other countries. Their stories show an arduous journey across borders, extending for days and weeks, where they face many dangers, including danger from smugglers and harsh conditions such as hot weather and rough roads, as the journey continues for several days, with no food, hospitals, schools and work for refugees.