Survivors' Horrifying Tales from the War-Torn Streets of Sudan

Fri Dec 05 2025 10:14:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Eyewitness accounts reveal the brutal realities faced by civilians fleeing the Sudanese conflict, with merciless attacks and atrocities committed by paramilitary forces.

As the war in Sudan escalates, haunting stories emerge from those who managed to escape the violence. Civilians recount their harrowing experiences of being targeted by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the city of el-Fasher. Witnesses describe deadly shootings, the terrifying escape over treacherous paths, and the loss of loved ones, painting a grim portrait of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Survivors' Horrifying Tales from the War-Torn Streets of Sudan

Abdulqadir Abdullah Ali suffered serious nerve damage to his leg during the long siege of the Sudanese city of el-Fasher. The 62-year-old walks with a heavy limp but ran in panic when fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the city.

The morning the RSF came there were bullets, many bullets, and explosives going off, he said, recalling the chaos as families scattered in fear.

The fall of el-Fasher, after an 18-month siege, marks a brutal chapter in Sudan's civil conflict, with eyewitnesses sharing gripping accounts of atrocities. The RSF has been engaged in violent confrontations with the regular army since April 2023, leading to widespread condemnation of their barbaric acts against civilians.

Reports detail how RSF fighters shot at unarmed civilians, aimed to instill fear, and even ran over those still alive. Ali, who managed to escape to a tent camp in al-Dabbah, shared, They were shooting at the people - the elderly, the civilians, with live ammunition. Others described graphic scenes witnessed as they fled the city.

Among those fleeing, Mohammed Abbaker Adam, a local official, reported the road filled with bodies, noting, So many people are scattered around; we don't know where they are. He narrowly escaped the RSF's advance by disguising his age.

Reports of violence extended beyond gunfire, as individuals recounted instances of sexual assault. A report from a 19-year-old woman disclosed how her group was targeted and how they ultimately lost a companion to the RSF. She said, I was scared, describing the atmosphere of terror at checkpoints.

Humanitarian organizations are struggling to account for the displaced, with many unaccounted for since the takeover of el-Fasher. Some crossed into neighboring Chad while others found refuge in nearby areas, only to face the hardships of displacement.

The RSF continues to deny allegations of systematic abuse against civilians, despite mounting evidence from multiple sources.

The voices of those who survived shed light on the devastating costs of a conflict that has ravaged their homes, leaving them uncertain about the future.