A Mother’s Struggle Amidst Conflict: The Plight of Sudanese Refugees

Sarah Williams, a mother of five, recalls the chaos of fleeing conflict in Sudan, only to face new dangers in South Sudan. Stranded in Renk, she describes the desperate conditions of overcrowded refugee camps as communities cope with disease, starvation, and ongoing violence.

When war erupted in Sudan, Sarah Williams, a 33-year-old mother from South Sudan, found herself entrenched in chaos, battling for survival with her five children. Gunfire ravaged their home in Khartoum, forcing them to crawl on the ground for safety. “It was chaos,” she remembered, clutching her one-year-old son.

Ms. Williams fled South Sudan during its civil war in 2013, a conflict that emerged just two years after the nation gained independence from Sudan. The power struggle between leaders Salva Kiir and Riek Machar claimed 400,000 lives and displaced millions, including Ms. Williams. After relocating to Khartoum, she began anew as a housekeeper, only to be uprooted again in 2023 by renewed fighting.

“The conflict started among themselves,” she explained, referring to the battling factions led by military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Both groups targeted South Sudanese civilians, exacerbating an already dire situation. The violence in Sudan has claimed more than 150,000 lives and devastated Khartoum.

Despite her hopes of returning to her hometown, Nasir, in Upper Nile State, violence has escalated there as well, making it unsafe for Ms. Williams to travel. "I don't know where they ran to when the clashes started… or even if they're alive," she expressed, highlighting the unbearable uncertainty many refugees face.

Stuck for five months in Renk, a transit hub overwhelmed with refugees, Ms. Williams and countless others rely on aid agencies that offer minimal assistance. The camp, originally designed for fewer residents, is now home to over 9,000, amplifying risks of disease and hunger. With little to sustain themselves, women are forced to chop down trees for firewood, a stark depiction of environmental degradation caused by war.

The strain on resources leads many to a 2.5-day journey down the River Nile for a chance at safety. Mary Deng, one such refugee from Wad Madani, now travels with her newborn and a large family group, underscoring the fragility of their situation. Overwhelmed medical facilities struggle to address the needs of displaced individuals, with a cholera outbreak further complicating conditions in Renk.

The roots of South Sudan's crisis extend deep, as ongoing tensions between political leaders threatened the fragile 2018 peace deal. Conflict has surged again since Machar was placed under house arrest, further complicating an already precarious atmosphere.

As Uganda sends troops to support Kiir, fears of a return to civil war mount, with Dagalo's announcement of a rival government adding to the turmoil. Amidst this backdrop, Ms. Williams has resolved to stay in South Sudan to rebuild her life, expressing a profound sense of resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.