Abdulqadir Abdullah Ali suffered serious nerve damage to his leg during the long siege of the Sudanese city of el-Fasher because he could not get medicine for his diabetes.
The 62-year-old walks with a heavy limp, but he was so panicked when fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) finally captured the city in the western Darfur region, he felt no pain as he ran.
The morning the RSF came there were bullets, many bullets, and explosives going off, he says.
People were out of control [with fear], they ran out of their houses, and everyone ran in different directions, the father, the son, the daughter - running.
The fall of el-Fasher after an 18-month siege is a particularly brutal chapter in Sudan's civil war. The RSF has been fighting the regular army since April 2023 when a power struggle between them erupted into war.
Taking over el-Fasher was a major victory for the RSF, pushing the army out of its last foothold in Darfur.
While many tried to escape, the survivors share tragic tales of loss and brutality witnessed throughout their flight. Abdulqadir recounts seeing RSF fighters shooting indiscriminately at civilians and even driving over those who appeared to be alive.
UN reports indicate that the humanitarian crisis in the region is dire, with thousands unaccounted for and horrific allegations overwhelming the media narrative surrounding the conflict. Amidst escalating violence, the international community’s response intensifies, epitomized by U.S. President’s renewed interest in brokering peace.
The resilience of those who escaped remains visible, displaying both a heart-wrenching sense of loss and an unyielding will to survive amidst chaos.
