Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, and displacement of millions more, creating the world’s largest displacement crisis. The war has devastated communities, with intense urban fighting, shelling and airstrikes becoming a daily reality. Khartoum is one of the epicentres of the violence and the fighting has lasted for months, trapping people in the crossfire, or forcing them to flee. Despite these challenges, the resilience and strength of the Sudanese people shine through in Faiz Abubakr's work, reflecting the life continuing amidst chaos.
Melu Bedliho, 32, was displaced to Um Rakuba camp in 2022. She is now living in the camp. She gave birth to her second child in the camp. © Faiz Abubakr
Ahmad Awad, 11 years old, displaced from Al Jazirah State, is a patient in the MSF cholera treatment unit in Al Gedaref. © Faiz Abubakr
“I was displaced from Khartoum to Al Hosh city, Al Jazirah State, where I stayed for four months. That is when I was injured by a bullet in my right hand while going to the mill. I moved to another city and took the necessary steps to be treated by a doctor, thank God. I had one operation to fix the bones and I couldn’t afford the second operation to repair the nerves. It has been seven months since I cannot work as blacksmith because of my injury, but I have to support my family...”
— Abdul Muhaymen Moussa
"We were displaced from Khartoum to Al Dindar with my four daughters and two sons. We suffered a lot during the journey from Khartoum to Sinja to Al Dindar because RSF raided our house and we couldn't take anything with us. We reached Al Dindar and spent the night in a school for displaced people……but RSF came back to Al Dindar, and we had to move again from Al Dindar to Al Houata and then, we came to the town of Al Gederaf, but we were exhausted…it was a hard time.”
— Amal Nawai Al Toum
"I was born in Sennar and lived in Khartoum. After the war started, I was shot and I was displaced from Khartoum to Sennar, then to Al Dinder and finally to Al Gedaref, where I am now in the school site for IDPs. I don't know where the bullet in my leg came from because there was a lot of crossfire and a lot of fighters. All I cared about at that time was my children".
— Nisreen Mukhtar Ahmed
"I was living in Abu Hajar locality in White Nile State when an aerial bombardment occurred in a local market. I was there at the time, and I was injured, resulting in the amputation of my hand. After that, I was displaced to Al Gedaref, and now I am living as a displaced person in the Al Tadamun school gathering site.”
— Al Touma Adam Abdullah Tour
Women cooking inside the Al Tadamon schoolgrounds, Gedaref State. © Faiz Abubakr
“For a safe homeland and rebuilding of the East (of Sudan)”, painted on an exterior wall of Al Tadamon school which is an IDPs gathering site. © Faiz Abubakr
