Resilience Amid Chaos: A Journey of Survival in Sudan's Civil War

In the war-torn region of Darfur, 19-year-old Alawia Babiker Ahmed shares her traumatic experience of miscarriage and perilous flight, illustrating the dire humanitarian crisis engulfing Sudan as families flee violence and devastation.

In the midst of Sudan's ongoing civil war, 19-year-old Alawia Babiker Ahmed experienced a traumatic miscarriage while fleeing the conflict that has plagued the western region of Darfur. “I was bleeding on the way,” Alawia recounted to BBC reporters, noting that even amid her suffering, she encountered individuals facing even harsher circumstances during her grueling three-day journey of approximately 70 kilometers (45 miles) from the besieged city of el-Fasher to Tawila.

Enduring air strikes and the threat of militias, Alawia stumbled upon an orphaned infant whose mother had been killed. In a moment of compassion, she picked the child up, reportedly stating, “We covered the mother and kept going.”

Since April 2023, the civil war has wreaked havoc on Sudan, displacing over 12 million people. The conflict erupted between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with Darfur becoming a significant battleground. RSF forces have been making aggressive moves to gain control, bombarding el-Fasher, where the army remains in power. Alawia and her family were compelled to escape as violence intensified, with her brother, Marwan Mohamed Adam, 21, recounting being assaulted by gangs allied with the RSF. The ongoing conflict has created a culture of fear, yet survival demands deception. Marwan managed to avoid execution by lying about his origins, claiming to be from a distant location during interrogations.

Khadija Ismail Ali, another survivor, lamented the horrific toll on her family, losing 11 members to shelling in el-Fasher and watching three children perish from thirst on their arduous trek to Tawila. Her family's journey began in their village, el-Tarkuniya, which was raided last September, costing them their livelihoods and food.

Aid organizations like Alima have reported alarming rates of severe malnutrition in Tawila as families arrive in dire circumstances. Alawia and her siblings faced hunger as well, with her sister discarding their meager food supplies during their flight. In a desperate search for water, they unwittingly approached an RSF-controlled area and were robbed of their last funds and shoes. Alawia described attempts to gain access to water that culminated in violence, but despite considerable challenges, she and her family eventually reached Tawila, where they received medical attention.

Now residing safely, albeit precariously, with a local family’s assistance, Alawia expresses gratitude but anxiety about the future. Meanwhile, her brother dreams of continuing his education abroad, a path many Sudanese are now pursuing as war continues to devastate their homeland. Like many others, Alawia's resilience highlights the strength of the human spirit amid overwhelming adversity in Sudan.