In the month of May, Amira embarked on a perilous journey through one of Sudan's most active war zones. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had just seized the city where she was living—En Nahud in the state of West Kordofan. The road out was dangerous, but she felt she had no choice. She was seven months pregnant. There were no hospitals anymore, no pharmacies, she said, and I was afraid if I stayed longer, I wouldn’t find any vehicles heading out. Travel had become almost non-existent: incredibly difficult and extremely expensive.
The civil war between the Sudanese military and RSF has brutalized civilians for more than two years. Now, the front line has shifted to the southern region of Kordofan, through which Amira traveled. The BBC is not using her real name to protect her identity.
As Amira fled, she recorded an audio diary that was made available to the BBC by the global campaigns group Avaaz. Right from the beginning of the trip, there was trouble. The RSF and its allies controlled all transport. When she and her husband boarded the truck to take her out of En Nahud, a fight broke out between the young man who had rented the vehicle and the RSF driver, who was selling more seats.
With the driver threatening violence, the fear among the passengers was palpable. After several days of travel and numerous challenges, they finally reached the border with South Sudan. Now awaiting the birth of her child in Uganda, Amira reflects on the chaos left behind and the uncertain future ahead, hoping for peace and security in her homeland.
The civil war between the Sudanese military and RSF has brutalized civilians for more than two years. Now, the front line has shifted to the southern region of Kordofan, through which Amira traveled. The BBC is not using her real name to protect her identity.
As Amira fled, she recorded an audio diary that was made available to the BBC by the global campaigns group Avaaz. Right from the beginning of the trip, there was trouble. The RSF and its allies controlled all transport. When she and her husband boarded the truck to take her out of En Nahud, a fight broke out between the young man who had rented the vehicle and the RSF driver, who was selling more seats.
With the driver threatening violence, the fear among the passengers was palpable. After several days of travel and numerous challenges, they finally reached the border with South Sudan. Now awaiting the birth of her child in Uganda, Amira reflects on the chaos left behind and the uncertain future ahead, hoping for peace and security in her homeland.
