In brief
Alawia Babiker Ahmed, 19, recounts her traumatic escape from the civil war in Sudan, where she lost her baby while fleeing airstrikes. Along her perilous journey from el-Fasher to Tawila, she rescued an abandoned child and faced threats from armed gangs. The devastating conflict has forced millions from their homes, leaving behind a humanitarian crisis.
Aged just 19, Alawia Babiker Ahmed miscarried as she was fleeing on foot from the ongoing civil war that has devastated Sudan's western region of Darfur. "I was bleeding on the way," she recounted to the BBC, emphasizing that she witnessed many others who were "worse off" during her harrowing three-day journey of approximately 70km (45 miles) from the besieged city of el-Fasher to the small town of Tawila. Amidst dodging airstrikes and militiamen, Alawia came across an infant crying for his mother, who lay dead nearby. Without hesitation, she picked up the child, covering his mother and continuing onward: "We covered the mother and kept going."Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in civil war, pitting the army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading to one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with over 12 million people displaced from their homes. Darfur has emerged as a critical battleground, with the RSF controlling most of the region, except for el-Fasher, which remains under army control. The city has suffered intense bombardments as the RSF attempts to seize it.As the shelling intensified last month, Alawia and her family decided to flee, walking to Tawila. Marwan Mohamed Adam, her 21-year-old brother, shared that he was assaulted by RSF-aligned gangs during their escape—beaten and robbed of their few belongings. Fearing for his life, he lied about his origins to avoid execution, claiming he was from a nearby village instead of el-Fasher."You feel fear, you feel like you are already dead," Marwan expressed to the BBC, describing horrific scenes of bodies scattered along the route. Another woman, Khadija Ismail Ali, shared that her family suffered immensely, with 11 relatives killed during the shelling and three children succumbing to thirst on their journey. She detailed the attack on her village, where RSF militias stole their harvests and compelled them to flee.The medical charity Alima reported widespread famine, with families suffering due to malnutrition, particularly among children. As Alawia and her family fled airstrikes, they lost the little food they carried. The group made a desperate trek to find water but was met with hostility from RSF fighters, who robbed them of their last belongings and refused them water.Desperate and exhausted, Alawia and her family eventually arrived in Tawila, where she collapsed and was aided in the hospital. After her recovery and that of Marwan, they sought the relatives of the infant they had rescued, eventually reuniting the child with his family. Now residing in Tawila, Alawia feels uncertain yet relieved, finding temporary refuge with a local family. She expressed concern for the future, with Marwan seeking opportunities abroad to further his education and start anew.As the war continues to disrupt lives and displace millions, the struggle for survival in Sudan remains a poignant testament to human resilience amid chaos.
